California bill to ban large loads of homework in public schools considered
(FOX40.COM) — A new bill introduced in the legislature is taking aim at banning excessive homework in California public schools.
“Homework is exhausting. It’s overwhelming, ” said sixth-grade student Sofia Johnson. “It’s depressing that my whole day- from when I wake up to when I go to bed- is nearly all taken up with schoolwork.”
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That’s why Johnson’s mother, Assembly Member Pilar Schiavo says she authored AB 2999, also known as “The Healthy Homework Act.”
AB 2999 would not ban homework, however, the proposal would mandate local school boards and educational agencies to establish homework policies that consider impacts on students’ physical and mental health all with input from parents, teachers, and students themselves.
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While many Californians can remember spending hours after school at their desk bogged down in homework, Schiavo hopes to change that for the next generation.
“I think this is going to make a huge impact for students,” Schiavo said. “The times have changed and our homework policies don’t always change with the times, so we need to make sure we are addressing issues that are effective and also don’t harm kids.”
Her proposal comes as a survey of more than 300,000 American students conducted by Stanford University and the nonprofit organization Challenge Success found that 45% of students say workload and homework is their #1 source of stress. 13,000 California high school students who took the survey report an average of 2.5 hours of homework every night.
“If it’s such a source of stress for kids, and we know taking stress off kids’ plates will make a difference in their mental health, this is something that can practically impact kids’ mental health overnight,” Schiavo said.
The bill is also reported to be tailored around equity since some lower socioeconomic backgrounds may not have access to resources at home like high speed internet.
“A child’s grade should not be dependent on the resources they have at home to do the homework,” said California Teacher of the Year, Casey Cuny. “I truly believe the resources should be dependent on the learning that takes place in the classroom with the professional. That’s why I support this bill – because in the end, it will be what’s best for kids.”
The bill unanimously passed the assembly education committee with bipartisan support. It has no formal opposition.
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