California legislators advanced a bill that would ban schools from assigning large amounts of homework to students.
Assembly Bill 2999, introduced by state Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo in February, passed the Assembly Education Committee on April 22 with a unanimous vote. It will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in the coming weeks.
The bill would update homework guidelines across California school districts, mandating school boards to set policies that support students’ mental and physical health and are appropriate for their grade level.
It would also encourage districts to consider if some homework should be optional or not graded to relieve students’ stress.
“Students have chosen ‘overall workload and homework’ as a top stressor,” Ms. Schiavo stated in an April 22 Education Committee analysis.
“With the mental health crisis in schools only getting bigger, we need to do something to help give our pupils some breathing room. Giving students less homework or not grading it can give pupils that support and opportunity to unwind after school.”
Ms. Schiavo went on to note that studies suggest that “all students need playtime, down time, and family time in order to have a healthy mind and a healthy body.”
However, she said, current homework practices are “inconsistent, wide ranging, and can lead to hours of homework per night for already strained student schedules.”
There’s currently no registered support or opposition for the bill on file with the state Assembly.
