Homework Policy 2020-2021

Daily Homework Assignments – Not Counted Toward Report Card Grades

Homework assignments by topic will be posted each day by all K-5 live classroom teachers in the classroom and by remote classroom teachers on their Google Classroom page. All K-5 teachers will assign homework.
Teachers will encourage children to complete all homework and will tell students how to turn-in their assignments (uploaded to Google Classroom or handed-in).
Parents will determine the appropriate amount of daily homework their child will complete (all, some, or none) based on their own personal and academic philosophies and the developmental needs of their child. For example, if a student is far above grade level in reading but struggles with math, the parent may decide to have his/her child focus more time on math and skip the evening’s reading assignment.
Parents are encouraged to work with their children to identify topics/questions which can be reinforced in the live or remote classrooms to help strengthen the home/classroom connection. Teachers will encourage children to share these topics/questions in their review of the homework assignments. Teacher will check homework and will reinforce learning based on identified areas of improvement.
Daily homework completion will not be counted towards report cards grades.
Teachers will assign daily homework as follows:

Kindergarten approximately 30 minutes (Monday -Thursday)

First Grade approximately 40 minutes (Monday- Thursday)

Second Grade approximately 50 minutes (Monday-Thursday)

Third Grade approximately 60 minutes (Monday-Friday)

Fourth Grade approximately 70 minutes (Monday-Friday)

Fifth Grade approximately 80 minutes (Monday-Friday)

Independent reading is included in these guidelines and is adjusted as the year goes on.
Homework assignments may include written work, studying, reading in content areas, research, etc.

Long Term Projects/Graded Assignments – Counted Toward Report Card Grades

Long term projects and graded assignments will be assigned by classroom and cluster teachers.
Long term projects and graded assignments are mandatory and will be counted toward report card grades.
Long term vacation projects and graded assignments will be assigned the week before vacation and will be due a week after the return to school. Two weekends (at the minimum) will be included in this time.
Long term projects and graded assignments that require access to the online public library will include a weekend to accommodate working families.
One Time Only – If a child forgets to hand-in or upload his or her long term project or graded assignments on the due date, there will be a one-time-only, 1 day grace period without penalty.
- If a child forgets his or her long term projects and graded assignments on future occasions, each late day will incrementally diminish the score: (4 à -4), (-4 à +3), (+3 à 3), (3 à -3), (-3 à +2) (+2 à 2) (2 à -2) (-2 à +1) (+1 à 1) (1 à -1) (-1 à 0)

Sick or Injured Children

100% remote students who are sick or injured and can participate in lessons will participate in their remote classroom as usual if they feel well enough to do so.
Each child should have at least two homework buddies to call if he/she has questions about the homework assignment.
Children who are out sick for 1-3 days will obtain homework assignments from their homework buddies, from their Google Classroom, or from the teacher when they return to in-person or remote school.
The principal will create individual instructional plans for students on a case-by-case basis for serious or long-term (e.g. hospital stay, broken legs) medical situations.

Quarantined Children

100% remote students who are quarantined will participate in their remote classroom as usual.
Quarantined children who attend school in-person may join the 100% remote learning classrooms if they are quarantined and feel well enough to do so. The quarantined children will temporarily have a different teacher while they are in the remote class.

Children Absent Due to Family Celebrations/Vacations

Advanced homework and school work will not be provided when families go on vacation when school is in session. Students may log into Google Classroom during the day.
Advanced homework and school work will not be provided when children miss school due to family celebrations. Students may log into Google Classroom during the day.