Great News: Wyoming Elementary School Continues No-Homework Practice

Posted bySara BennettPosted inResources, Success Stories

I just learned from Christine Hendricks, the principal of Grant Elementary School in Glenrock, Wyoming, that her school, which implemented a no-homework practice in September, is going to continue its practice for the foreseeable future. After a trial run, and surveying the parents, Hendricks shared her findings with the School Board. Among other things, the survey found that children had more time to play, sleep, read, and eat dinner with their families and spent less time watching TV. Children also had an improved attitude towards going to school and parents found themselves in fewer conflicts with their children.

Here’s the School’s report on its no-homework practice:

Homework Survey Summary
Grant Elementary School

After much thought and collaboration from the staff, Grant Elementary decided to take a bold step. We decided to implement the No Homework practice. A letter was drafted and sent home to parents explaining our decision. Here’s the letter.

During Parent/Teacher conferences, we asked parents to complete a survey concerning our newly implemented practice. A total of 72 parents responded. The results are as follows:

A.) 59 surveys were returned that parents liked the No Homework practices this year.

Of these 59 surveys the following numbers indicate parents felt an increase or improvement by not having homework.

• 45 surveys reported an increase played outside
• 41 surveys reported increase dinner with the family
• 36 surveys reported increase going to bed early
• 22 surveys reported improvements limited television, video and computer time
• 49 surveys reported increase reading at home
• 40 surveys reported less conflicts with your child
• 43 surveys reported improvement better attitude towards school

B.) 13 surveys were returned that parents do not like our homework practices.

Even though these surveys don’t like our homework practices they still reported there was an increase or improvement in the following:

• 2 surveys reported an increase played outside
• 2 surveys reported increase dinner with the family
• 3 surveys reported increase going to bed early
• 2 surveys reported improvements limited television, video and computer time
• 3 surveys reported increase reading at home
• 6 surveys reported less conflicts with your child
• 2 surveys reported improvement better attitude towards school

Due to the overwhelming positive feedback from the surveys, the general consensus feels that the no homework policy seem to be working well in promoting positive family time in the evenings. Children are reading more and have a better attitude towards school. Homework is still provided for those students who are making choices in the classroom to not complete work or if parents are requesting it. One concern was that homework helps parents know what is going on in the classroom, a possible solution might be a weekly or monthly newsletter home to parents. Overall the consensus from the surveys was very positive. We will continue to implement the No Homework practice and monitor the success of our practice.

27 thoughts on “Great News: Wyoming Elementary School Continues No-Homework Practice”

  1. Homework . I hate it . The weekend should be for sleep and for getting about school and haging out with mates . NO. Insead im stuck inside doing 2 sets of RE , drama , sicence and that going to take a few good hours to do it right .

    I understand why homework is needed but why so much ?

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  9. i used to go to that school in 3rd grade im in 5th grade now but i always had homework in misses retslaf i think thats how you put her name retslaf i love the no homework thing that your doing because when kids have more time to play there test scores go up from what i studied

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  15. Have fun trying to get into College or a rewarding job after you have completed school in Wyoming. Also, be prepared to up your workload from your lazy 2-3 hours a day at school to 12-15 hours a day at work.

    You have a rude awaking ahead. Going to school in Wyoming is one strike against you, how can you possibly compete with the rest of the country not putting in an effort.

    Good luck to you all.

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  16. As a parent of 4, I think your No-homework policy is fantastic! Schools have my children for 6 hours a day – the BEST 6 hours of the day. I get them when they’re tired, hungry, cranky… I am convinced my children would learn more by building a hut out of drift-wood, or swimming in the river and learning about currents and tides and the creatures that live there than they ever will sitting down trying to memorise the spelling of words they may never use! Schools should give parents more credit than they do for our ability to teach our children (in the very broadest sense of the word). They don’t NEED to send homework. It is degrading to parents… like we wouldn’t know what to do with our kids were it not for them!
    Amanda (New Zealand)

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  19. hi im at school and im doing this STUIPED PROJECT And I DONT WANT HOMEWORK so fight the power!!!!!! (: 8th grader here!! MIRANDA TOO (: YEAAAAAAAA BABYYYYYYY

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  20. OKAYYY SO IM AT AT SCHOOL AND IM DOING A STUPID PROJECT OVER FIGHTING FOR IPADSS AT THIS DARRNNNNNNNN SCHOOL !!!!!@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LETSSS FIGHTTT THE POWERRRR TOGETHERRR PPL OFF THE USA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  21. this is dumb you need homework to get ready for collage. if you dont have hw in high school you will be screwed when you go to collage!!!!!!

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  23. I wish I went to this school……in student counsil we are debating wether or not we should have homework…right now we are studying the good things about not haveing homework!!!

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