Homework Guidelines

The following information has been taken from Baltimore County Public Schools Policy #5210. For further clarification, please talk to your child’s teacher or school administrator.

The assignment of homework is encouraged as a means of reinforcing and enriching the instructional program and to assist students to develop independent study skills. Length and complexity of homework assignments should be appropriate to the age and total development needs of the student as well as to the subject under study.

As students advance through school, it is reasonable to expect that the amount of homework can be increased. Teachers should collaborate in implementing the following parameters of time and frequency of homework:

Grades 1 – 3	An average of 30 minutes per day for all subjects combined 3 to 4 times per week. No weekends or holidays.
Grades 4 – 5	An average of 60 minutes per day for all subjects combined 4 to 5 times per week. No homework assigned over holidays. Possible long-term assignments.
Grades 6 – 8	An average of 20-30 minutes per subject combined no longer than 90 minutes per day 5 times per week. No holidays. Possible long-term assignments.
Grades 9 – 12	(7 period day) An average of 30 minutes per subject no longer than 3 hours per day 5 times per week. No holidays. Possible long-term assignments.
	(4 period day) An average of 45 minutes per subject no longer than 3 hours per day 5 times per week. No holidays. Possible long-term assignments.

Students should be given an opportunity to make up homework if they participate in school-sponsored activities.