Dublin High School 2017-18 Homework and Grading Plan Homework Dublin High School is committed to supporting students to realize their full academic, social, and emotional potential. An essential component to meet this goal is to establish strong partnerships between staff, students, and parents. We believe homework should be purposeful, challenging and relevant, and extend student learning to directly influence student s ability to meet our district s high academic standards. We define homework as any tasks assigned to students by teachers that are meant to be carried out during non-school hours. These tasks include, but are not limited to: Skills practice, previewing new content, review guides, essays and other writing tasks, research, required reading, independent and group projects. As a staff, we believe in the value of homework as an integral part of every student s education. Just as an athlete could not hope to get better at his or her sport without practicing, students shouldn t expect to master new concepts without doing independent practice and studying. To this end, Dublin teachers review their assignments to ensure they are targeted and relevant, and are designed to help students improve their understanding. Dublin High School students need to have a place to effectively work on homework. That space should be free from distractions (such as TV, social media devices, ringing phones, and excessive conversation). Time expectations listed in this policy document assume uninterrupted homework time, free from such distractions. Any student who does not have such an environment available at home is encouraged to work on homework in the DHS HUB, which is open from 7am-5pm daily. Tutoring is available in all subjects. We believe that staff, students and parents all have expectations and responsibilities in regard to homework. Parent/Student/Staff Support of Homework Parent Responsibility As partners in the education of our students, parents and staff need to work together to we welcome parental support for our students success. Providing a distraction free environment for students to work is a first step. We understand that this is not always in the home and welcome students in the HUB for additional support. Parents know their students and understand where their students fall on this spectrum. A parent who, after taking his or her student s individual course load and style into account, still feels that student is consistently taking longer than 10 hours of homework per week, is encouraged to follow these steps, in order: Observe the student doing their homework. Work with the student to see if there are ways to help the student work more effectively. Encourage the student to discuss this directly with their teacher. We want students to take ownership of their learning. Email the student s teachers to initiate a discussion on ways in which assignments can be modified to retain value but take less time.
Request a conference with individual teachers and the student s counselor to discuss the matter. Student Responsibility Time management is a key skill for college and career success. Students are expected to know what their homework is and when it is due, a well as the dates of upcoming tests and quizzes. For every homework assignment (or type of assignment), teachers will communicate to students the expectations for successful completion of the assignment. This communication may be in class or electronically; it is up to students to check their teachers Google Classroom, webpages, etc. on a daily basis. Students should understand what constitutes a well done assignment vs. a poorly completed assignment. Students are expected to study in a distraction free environment. Unless social media is explicitly required to complete an assignment, students should instruct friends and family not to contact them and turn off cell phones, block access to social sites, and reduce the number of things that can potentially distract them. Students are expected to speak to their teachers if they are struggling in a class. Staff Responsibility As professionals, we have a responsibility to our students to provide homework designed with a purpose and to clearly communicate that purpose. This can be through Google Classroom, through their DHS or Moodle Website, or through other available means. We have a responsibility to ensure that the time to complete homework is within healthy guidelines. Students should expect no more than 10 hours of homework, on average, per week depending on their course load. It is understood that students will have more homework some nights than others, therefore a weekly upper limit is more realistic than a nightly one. Please note that all students work at their own pace; what takes one student 20 minutes might take another 60 minutes. Teachers take responsibility for providing timely feedback to our students on homework. We provide homework help for students needing assistance on their assignments. We address time management and study habits with our students to help prepare them to be successful independent learners. We work within course teams to provide consistent homework assignments for our students. We communicate assignments and due dates through multiple venues: written in our classrooms, on our websites, communicated verbally to students. Teachers will take into account the time long-term projects take to complete, and will plan daily homework accordingly for the duration of each term project. Projects are included in the weekly homework hours - they are not in addition to the weekly homework hours. No project will be assigned exclusively over a school break (including weekends). Homework Expectations and Requirements Homework is designed to be up to 2 hours per night, or 8-10 hours per week, if the student is not enrolled in any advanced courses. Each honors and advanced placement course may
require additional homework of up to an hour per night per course. Parents and students shall use the course catalog to determine approximate homework loads. Test preparation and long-term projects may require additional time. Weekend homework may be given at the teacher's discretion; a student's total homework shall not exceed three hours per weekend. Students are expected to manage their time for projects, test preparation, and independent research. Teachers shall conduct appropriate mid-project checks. Estimation of time for homework is listed on each course syllabus. Any student who consistently spends much longer on their homework than the average time, should make an appointment with their teacher so that together they can determine how to make the homework process more efficient. Parents are encouraged to monitor their student s progress in Infinite Campus. Teachers update their grades s (quizzes, tests, projects, etc.) for all students at least once a Chapter or once a unit, but not less than three (3) times per quarter. Homework Policies Tests shall not fall on the first school day immediately after a holiday. Due dates for projects shall not fall on the first school day immediately after a holiday. There should be no homework over winter break. Teachers shall conduct appropriate mid-project checks. The means by which assignments shall be coordinated and consistent within grade-level and course-level teams The means by which project due dates, test dates, and extra-curricular activities/performances will be communicated Expectations of students as they transition between grade levels, from elementary to middle school, and middle to high school shall be described. Student Support Students who need additional support for working on homework have many options at DHS. The first resource for extra help is always the classroom teacher. The teacher best knows the student and the assignments and is in the best position to answer questions and help that student. Most, if not all, teachers at DHS are available for office hours either before school, after school, or during the first or second half of the lunch period. Some teachers are available for drop-in, others by appointment only. Students should make an effort to find out when their teachers are available for additional assistance. The second resource for students at DHS is the HUB. The HUB is staffed with tutors for almost all subjects from 7am-5pm daily. No appointment is necessary, and students are welcomed before and after school, during lunch, or during their GAEL period. In addition to specific subject skills, tutors in the HUB can help students learn timemanagement skills, study skills, note taking, and organization. Students needing additional help can make appointments with their counselor to explore additional school resources.
Communication Students and parents are encouraged to check course syllabi for information regarding the communication of homework and grades. Make-Up Work Make-up work from absences--students have time equal to the number of days of their absence to turn in homework and class work missed as well as to schedule make up Make-up work from suspensions-when a student is absent from school, he/she must make up all missed work. During a suspension, a student may turn in homework. A student absent due to suspension must complete and turn in work. Full credit may be earned for work turned in. It is the individual responsibility of any suspended student to remain informed of class assignments and due dates. Make-up of tests and/or quizzes missed during the period of suspension shall be arranged by individual teacher(s). Students have 24 hours upon the return to school to turn in homework and classwork and to schedule a time to take tests/quizzes missed. Independent Study Students interested in doing short team (5-20 days) Independent Student need to pick up the form in Attendance. Grading Grading is an important means of communicating student performance and progress. Grades are an impartial, consistent reflection of the quality of the student s work and his/her mastery of course standards. Student learning is supported by daily attendance and homework completion, class participation, and academic honesty. Grade Scale and Assignments Dublin High School support the Grading Policy adopted by the District Board and the Dublin High School Administration. Grading Scale: 93-100 = A 87-89 = B+ 77-79 = C+ 67-69 = D+ Below 60 = F 90-92 = A- 83-86 = B 73-76 = C 63-66 = D 80-82 = B- 70-72 = C- 60-62 = D- Course letter grades will be rounded up at.50 and above. Course teams determine the weight of each category. Please see course syllabus for details. Policies and Procedures Students and parents are encouraged to review the course syllabus for specific policies and procedures. Teachers are available to review expectations and provide feedback.