Are you stressed about homework? Do you juggle extracurricular activities, work and family responsibilities? It can be difficult for many students, especially those on low incomes, to find time to devote to homework.

Compilation of school stress: https://youtu.be/j4wqKsc8D3s

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We collaborated with students in the @PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs program at Youth Beat in Oakland, CA to ask: What is a good amount of homework?

**Is homework beneficial for students?
The homework debate has been going on for years. Much research shows that homework can have a positive impact on academic performance. It can also help students prepare for the academic rigors of college.

**Does homework harm students?
Some research suggests that homework is only beneficial up to a certain point. Too much homework can harm students' health and increase stress. Many students, especially those with low incomes, may struggle to find time to complete homework, especially if they work after school or care for family members. Some students may not have access to technology, such as computers or the Internet, that is necessary to complete homework assignments, which can make completing assignments even more difficult. Many argue that this contributes to educational inequities, particularly if homework completion is linked to better academic performance.

**How much homework should students receive?
Based on research, the National Education Association recommends the 10-minute rule that students should receive 10 minutes of homework per grade per evening. But opponents of homework point out that for seniors, this still represents 2 hours of homework, which can be a lot for students with conflicting obligations. And in fact, high school students say it can be difficult for teachers to coordinate homework since students take different classes. Some people advocate eliminating homework altogether.

Sources:
Edweek: How much homework is enough? It depends who you ask
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/04/19/how-much-homework-is-enough-depends-who.html

Business Insider: Here's how homework differs around the world
https://www.businessinsider.com/education-homework-differs-around-the-world-2016-11

Review of educational research: does homework improve academic success? A synthesis of research, 1987-2003
http://upload-community.kipa.co.il/819201525856.pdf

Phys.org: Study suggests more than two hours of homework a night could be counterproductive
https://phys.org/news/2014-03-hours-homework-night-counterproductive.html

The Journal of Experimental Education: Non-academic effects of homework in privileged and high-performing high schools
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00220973.2012.745469

National Education Association: Spotlight on homework research
NEA Reviews of Research on Best Practices in Education http://www.nea.org/tools/16938.htm
The Atlantic: Who does homework work for? https://www.theatlantic.com/letters/archive/2019/04/readers-respond-does-homework-work/586609/
Center for Public Education: What Research Says About Value of Homework: Research Review http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/research/what-research-says-about-value-homework-research-review
Time: Opinion: Why I think all schools should abolish homework http://time.com/4740297/homework-should-be-banned-from-schools/
The Atlantic: A Teacher's Defense of Homework https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/09/a-teachers-defense-of-homework/279967/

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