Boulder Valley School District
Adopted: Adopted prior to 1969
Revised: May 8, 2001, November 18, 2025
HOMEWORK
General
The term "homework" refers to tasks assigned to students by teachers to be completed during non-school hours. The design, quantity, and purpose of homework assignments can profoundly shape students’ skills, well-being, and fundamental attitude toward learning.
Well-designed homework supports student learning and provides teachers with important feedback on student progress in achieving District standards. Homework is not a substitute for classroom instruction and shall not be used for new learning.
The value of homework is a function of its quality, appropriateness, and relevance to classroom instruction. In designing homework policies, schools should ensure the amount of homework assigned considers the demands of family life and the wellbeing of students, including the impact of academic stress.
District Expectations Regarding Homework
- Homework is an instructional activity and should be planned as carefully as other instructional activities. Assigned tasks should be meaningful to purposes that can be served by independent work outside of class. The assignment of homework at each grade level shall be appropriate to students’ development, the curriculum, and grade level standards.
- Homework assignments shall consist of quality assignments with clear learning objectives for students and take into consideration individual differences of students related to disability, educational needs, language proficiencies, and/or specific abilities.
School and Program Responsibilities Regarding Homework
- Each school will develop specific written homework guidelines in accordance with this policy. These guidelines should encourage consistency among teachers at the same grade levels, within the same subject areas, or within the same programs (such as Career and Technical Education, International Baccalaureate, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, Advanced Placement, Honors).
- Schools are encouraged to provide flexibility in homework due dates, to allow students with significant commitments on a particular night to be able to turn in homework later in the week without penalty.
- Schools and programs will consider that all students may not have parent/guardian support for completing homework, and work to assure that students are not penalized in grading if they lack sufficient supports at home.
- Each year schools will notify students and parents of their written homework guidelines.
- Principals and teachers are responsible for addressing student and parent concerns and mitigating undesirable homework loads.
- Teachers will use a variety of techniques for providing meaningful feedback on homework to students.