There has hardly ever been another period in recent history when the debate over homework in American education has been so intense – driven by growing concerns about student mental health and the impact of artificial intelligence. Once primarily focused on academic achievement, discussions are now centered on how homework affects the well-being of students.
Butterfield Canyon Elementary School in Herriman, Utah, is an instance. Since 2020, as reported by Axios, the school has implemented a no-homework policy, a decision that Principal Jay Eads believes has significantly enhanced the social-emotional health of students.
“It helps increase the overall social-emotional health of our students because they’re not so focused, especially at the elementary level, just on ‘academic, academic, academic,'” Eads told Axios. “They’re able to explore other aspects of their life, which they should be doing at this developmental stage.”
Across the nation, homework is increasingly being viewed through the lens of mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while there has been some improvement in students’ mental health since the pandemic, overall well-being has not returned to pre-2020 levels. A Stanford-led survey in 2020 highlighted that 67% of high school students identified homework load as a significant stressor. And the figure jumped to 80% among those clocking in more than three hours of homework each night.
The link between homework and academic achievement, however, is far from straightforward. Denise Pope, a Stanford education researcher, points out that for younger students, there’s scant evidence to suggest that homework significantly boosts academic performance. On the other hand, engaging in activities like reading for pleasure has shown a stronger connection to academic success in early grades. As students grow older, reducing homework loads can also create a more equitable environment for those balancing school with work or family obligations.
Artificial intelligence, with tools like ChatGPT, adds another layer to this complex issue. A recent Pew survey revealed that 19% of teens have used AI to assist with schoolwork, with older students being the most frequent users. While some view AI as a potential tutor, others see it as a shortcut.
Meanwhile, a bill is currently making its way through the California legislature, sparked by a conversation between Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo and her daughter. Schiavo’s daughter, now in seventh grade, once asked her mother if she could “ban homework” when she got elected. This simple request, rooted in the stress of nightly homework battles, has since evolved into a broader discussion on the impact of homework on family life.
Educators like Katie Trowbridge, who spent 23 years teaching in Naperville, Illinois, have also begun to question the purpose of homework. Now the president of Curiosity 2 Create, Trowbridge advocates for assignments that encourage creative and critical thinking rather than rote completion. Her philosophy? Homework should be meaningful, not just a box to check off to appease administrators.
“As a single mom, I only have a couple of hours with my kid at night before they have to go to bed,” said Schiavo. “Spending most of that struggling to get homework done creates a lot of stress on a family.”
