Calif. Bill Targets Excessive Homework

California Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo has proposed the “Healthy Homework Act” to tackle excessive homework and its negative impact on student well-being. 

The bill, AB 2999, seeks to change California public schools’ homework policies. It mandates that local school boards and educational agencies develop guidelines that prioritize students’ physical and mental health. 

This move aims to revolutionize homework policies in the state and ensure that students are not overburdened with homework.

“With local control and input from teachers, students, and parents, AB 2999 aims to create supportive, equitable homework policies for our kids’ mental and physical health,” said Schiavo on X. “Let’s make homework more supportive and less stressful!”

AB 2999 stems from Schiavo’s conversation with her daughter, who questioned why homework could not be banned outright. While acknowledging the importance of homework, Schiavo recognized the need to create a balance that supported students’ overall well-being.

The Healthy Homework Act seeks to ensure that homework policies:

• Prioritize students’ mental and physical health
• Consider the equity of resources and access to technology
• Align with developmental appropriateness for each grade level
• Encourage meaningful and impactful homework assignments
• Allow for student, parent, and teacher input

Under the bill, school districts, county offices of education and charter schools must adopt homework policies by the start of the 2027-2028 school year. These policies must be publicly discussed at least twice before adoption and be reviewed and updated every five years.

Local educational agencies and boards are responsible for researching “effective homework practices” that can support students’ well-being, such as deciding which homework assignments can be optionally completed and providing opportunities to make up for missed work.

The State Department of Education would need to post guidelines on its website for educational bodies to develop homework policies by January 1, 2026, which was initially the date they needed to adopt them in the bill’s first draft.

AB 2999 features research highlighting the effects of excessive homework on students. Studies cited in the bill analysis show that:

There is no link between how much homework elementary school students do and their academic performance.

While some homework can benefit academic performance for middle and high school students, excessive homework has no significant impact or can even hinder achievement.

Homework can contribute to stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and health issues.

Excessive homework creates inequities for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who may need access to resources such as high-speed internet.

The bill does not ban homework. It encourages homework assignments to be restructured as “interesting, relevant, and valuable,” focusing more on quality than quantity to be an effective learning experience.

Assemblymember Schiavo emphasizes the bill’s focus on student mental health, citing a Challenge Success-Stanford University survey that found homework to be a primary source of stress for 45% of high school students.

The survey includes over 11,500 high school students in the 2022–2023 school year, with 56% of participants indicating that tests and grades are a significant source of stress.

Casey Cuny, one of five 2023 California Teachers of the Year awarded by National University, praises the bill for encouraging discussions on homework’s effectiveness and addressing equity concerns.

AB 2999 is currently under consideration by the Assembly Committee on Education. The Assembly will move to the Senate for further deliberation if passed.

AB 2999 is one of several state bills that have focused on student well-being in recent years. For instance, SB 328, passed in 2019 and became effective in the 2022-2023 school year, mandates that high schools start classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and middle schools no earlier than 8:00 a.m.

California’s proposed bill on changing homework policies to promote a healthier academic lifestyle is reminiscent of 2024 policies in Poland, placing strict limits on homework by banning it entirely for younger students and making it optional for middle schoolers with no impact on grades.

If adopted, the Healthy Homework Act could transform homework policies in California public schools. The bill aims to create a more balanced and supportive learning environment by prioritizing student well-being, equity and meaningful assignments.