San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Policy 6154
Homework/Makeup Work
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
The Governing Board recognizes that meaningful homework assignments can be a valuable extension of student learning time and assist students in developing good study habits. Homework shall be assigned when necessary to support classroom lessons, enable students to complete unfinished assignments, or review and apply academic content for better understanding.
The Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with school administrators and teachers to develop and regularly review guidelines for the assignment of homework and the related responsibilities of students, staff, and parents/guardians.
Homework assignments shall be reasonable in length and appropriate to the grade level and course. The Board expects that the number, frequency, and degree of difficulty of homework assignments will increase with the grade level and the maturity of students. Teachers shall assign homework only as necessary to fulfill academic goals and reinforce current instruction.
(cf. 6011 – Academic Standards)
As needed, teachers may receive training in designing relevant homework assignments that reinforce classroom learning objectives.
(cf. 4131 – Staff Development)
Age-appropriate instruction may be given to help students allocate their time wisely, meet their deadlines, and develop good personal study habits.
At the beginning of the school year, teachers shall communicate homework expectations to students and their parents/guardians. Homework guidelines also shall be included in student and/or parent handbooks. These communications shall include the manner in which homework relates to achievement of academic standards and course content, the impact of homework assignments on students’ grades, any school resources and programs that are available to provide homework support, and ways in which parents/guardians may appropriately assist their children.
Although it is the student’s responsibility to undertake assignments independently, parents/guardians may serve as a resource and are encouraged to ensure that their child’s homework assignments are completed. When a student repeatedly fails to complete his/her homework, the teacher shall notify the student’s parents/guardians as soon as possible so that corrective action can be taken prior to the release of any final grades or report cards.
(cf. 5020 – Parent Rights and Responsibilities)
(cf. 6020 – Parent Involvement)
Teachers shall review all completed homework to assess the student’s understanding of academic content and shall provide timely feedback to the student.
Makeup Work
Students who miss school work due to an excused absence shall be given the opportunity to complete all assignments and tests that can be reasonably provided. As determined by the teacher, the assignments and tests shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the assignments and tests missed during the absence. Students shall receive full credit for work satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time.
The Board encourages the provision of make-up work for full credit for unexcused absences that occur due to circumstances beyond the student’s control.
(cf. 5113 – Absences and Excuses)
The Superintendent or designee shall notify parents/guardians that no student may have his/her grade reduced or lose academic credit for any excused absence when missed assignments and tests are satisfactorily completed within a reasonable period of time. Such notification shall include the full text of Education Code 48205. (Education Code 48980)
(cf. 5121 – Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)
(cf. 5145.6 – Parental Notifications)
Suspended Students
When a student has been suspended from school, the principal or designee shall ensure that the student’s teacher provides the student with the homework that the student would otherwise have been assigned. If a homework assignment is requested and is turned in to the teacher by the student either upon the student’s return from suspension or within the timeframe originally prescribed by the teacher, whichever is later, and is not graded before the end of the academic term, the homework assignment shall not be included in the calculation of the student’s overall grade in the class. (Education Code 48913.5)
The teacher of any class from which a student is suspended may require the student to complete any assignments and tests missed during the suspension. (Education Code 48913)
(cf. 5144.1 – Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
8420-8428 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens
8482-8484.65 After School Education and Safety Program
8484.7-8484.9 21st Century Community Learning Centers
48205 Absences for personal reasons
48913 Completion of work missed by suspended student
48980 Parental notifications
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
7171-7176 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Research-Supported Strategies to Improve the Accuracy and Fairness of Grades, Governance Brief, July 2016
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California State PTA: http://www.capta.org
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.