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HOMEWORK/MAKEUP WORK
FILE CODE: 6154
Monitored
Mandated
X Other Reasons
The board of education defines homework as any learning-related activity assigned to be done at home. The board believes that homework, relevant to material presented in class, provides an opportunity to broaden, deepen or reinforce the student's knowledge. Homework also is intended to enhance a student's learning skills and work habits as well as strengthen a student's preparation for subsequent classes. Homework is not to be used for punitive reasons. Teachers must use discretion in deciding the types, number, and length of homework assignments. Also, it is expected that teachers will use the following guidelines when making decisions about homework:
In the elementary school homework should typically be assigned between two to four nights per school week, and take between 30-60 minutes on any given school night, including studying for tests, recognizing that homework time increases as students advance in grade levels. Weekend homework should be occasional and at the teacher's discretion.
Middle School is a key transition period, and it is expected that both classwork and homework will become progressively more demanding as students advance in grade levels. In eighth grade, many students are already taking high school level classes, and their homework will reflect that fact. Indeed, it is especially important that all middle school students be properly prepared for the demands of the high school curriculum.
At the outset of middle school, homework will typically be assigned between two to four nights per school week, and take between 30-60 minutes on any given school night, including studying for tests. By eighth grade, students typically will be assigned approximately 30 minutes homework per subject for an average of two to three hours homework several nights a week. Weekend homework is at the teacher's discretion.
Homework should be evaluated often for both correctness and effort.
Principals shall annually convey to staff members that the staff members' expectations of homework practices are to be submitted in writing to their students, and students' parents/guardians, and a copy to be kept on file with the principal.
Make-Up Work
Students absent for any reason must make up assignments, classwork and tests within a reasonable length of time. In most cases, a reasonable length of time shall be the same number of school days as the days missed.
Students being excused for any reason, other than illness, must make arrangements with the teacher of the missed classes in order to make up the work missed. This must be done before the absence from class.
On the second day of absence, a parent may request his/her child's homework assignments by 8:30 AM. The homework assignments will be made available to the parent/guardian by the end of that day.
Incompletes
When a student does not complete work missed for absence or other reasons, he/she will receive an "incomplete" for the marking period. Students will be given reasonable number of school days following the end of the marking period to make up the missed work.
If work critical to the student's understanding of the subject is not made up by the end of the next marking period, a failing grade may be earned for that subject.
If work is missing during the final marking period of the school year, the grade will be left to the discretion of the teacher. The teacher who has given an incomplete is responsible for reporting to the student the work he/she has missed and citing the consequences mentioned above.
Date: April 14, 1997
NJSBA Review/Update: April 2008, September 2008
Readopted: October 27, 2008
Key Words
N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1 General mandatory powers and duties
N.J.S.A. 18A:36-14 Religious holidays; absence of pupils on; effect
N.J.S.A. 18A:54-20 Powers of board (county vocational schools)
N.J.A.C. 6A:32-10.1 et seq. Summer School Sessions