is homework mandatory in texas

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Legal Homework Rights: What’s the Limit on Homework?

Hi, I just read your article Titled “Can You ‘Opt Out’ of Homework?” ( Click HERE  for the original article. ) I enjoyed the article but I guess I need a more concrete answer to the question of my legal homework rights: CAN I LEGALLY OPT OUT OF HOMEWORK FOR MY CHILD? – Dawn, SOAR ®  Parent

The answer is a resounding, Yes!

You have legal rights to put limits on your child’s homework time.

When homework begins to erode family relationships and/or increases the students anxiety, its time to make modifications. First, try communicating and working collaboratively with teachers and administrators.  If that doesn’t work, then you do have legal homework rights…

Legal Homework Rights

You absolutely do have legal rights to put reasonable limits on your child’s homework time. The legal tool you want to use is called a 504. For a link that provides a quick overview to the 504 law, click HERE .

504: The Legal Homework Rights Tool

Basically, the 504 law refers to legal homework rights (known as “accommodations”) that must be made for a child’s “impairment.”  As you’ll read, “impairments” are defined very loosely throughout the law, and this is done purposely to accommodate all students’ various needs. If your child has a diagnosis of ADHD, Dyslexia, etc. that will help, but it’s not necessary.

I have seen the 504 law used throughout my career as an educator for students and families exercising their legal homework rights.  I have also used it with my own children to get schools to accommodate what I felt was appropriate.

The 504 Process

The actual 504 process includes paperwork and a series of meetings. The meetings typically include a school counselor, a teacher, an administrator, and you and your child. In the meeting, all of your concerns will be documented and specific actions or remedies (like limiting homework) will be recorded. This document becomes a legally binding contract that your child’s teacher and administrator are required to uphold.

Legal Homework Rights: What’s a Reasonable Amount of Time for Homework?

So, what is a reasonable recommendation regarding time spent on homework?

We support the “10 Minute Rule.”   That’s a maximum of 10 minutes times the grade-level of the child. So, 10-minute max for 1 st grade, 20-minute max for 2 nd grade, up to 120-minute max for 12 th grade.

The “10-minute rule” is a great accommodation for a 504, because it is set to increase the limit on homework time as the child progresses through school. We’re not talking about eliminating homework just to create an easy path for our children.  Parents that have significant battles over homework, that can easily last an hour or more, understand that homework reaches a point where it is not productive.

Too much homework is destructive t o motivation, self-esteem, and to family relationships.  So, don’t be afraid to exercise your legal rights. This is the point where we want to pursue our legal homework rights.

In addition to pursuing 504 accommodations, you may want to give your students better skills to handle the demands of school.  To learn more about the SOAR ®  Parent Products, click HERE .

Brian Winter, M.Ed.

Co-Author, SOAR Social-Emotional Learning Skills

Six Steps to Conquer the Chaos

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Is Homework Good for Kids? Here’s What the Research Says

A s kids return to school, debate is heating up once again over how they should spend their time after they leave the classroom for the day.

The no-homework policy of a second-grade teacher in Texas went viral last week , earning praise from parents across the country who lament the heavy workload often assigned to young students. Brandy Young told parents she would not formally assign any homework this year, asking students instead to eat dinner with their families, play outside and go to bed early.

But the question of how much work children should be doing outside of school remains controversial, and plenty of parents take issue with no-homework policies, worried their kids are losing a potential academic advantage. Here’s what you need to know:

For decades, the homework standard has been a “10-minute rule,” which recommends a daily maximum of 10 minutes of homework per grade level. Second graders, for example, should do about 20 minutes of homework each night. High school seniors should complete about two hours of homework each night. The National PTA and the National Education Association both support that guideline.

But some schools have begun to give their youngest students a break. A Massachusetts elementary school has announced a no-homework pilot program for the coming school year, lengthening the school day by two hours to provide more in-class instruction. “We really want kids to go home at 4 o’clock, tired. We want their brain to be tired,” Kelly Elementary School Principal Jackie Glasheen said in an interview with a local TV station . “We want them to enjoy their families. We want them to go to soccer practice or football practice, and we want them to go to bed. And that’s it.”

A New York City public elementary school implemented a similar policy last year, eliminating traditional homework assignments in favor of family time. The change was quickly met with outrage from some parents, though it earned support from other education leaders.

New solutions and approaches to homework differ by community, and these local debates are complicated by the fact that even education experts disagree about what’s best for kids.

The research

The most comprehensive research on homework to date comes from a 2006 meta-analysis by Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper, who found evidence of a positive correlation between homework and student achievement, meaning students who did homework performed better in school. The correlation was stronger for older students—in seventh through 12th grade—than for those in younger grades, for whom there was a weak relationship between homework and performance.

Cooper’s analysis focused on how homework impacts academic achievement—test scores, for example. His report noted that homework is also thought to improve study habits, attitudes toward school, self-discipline, inquisitiveness and independent problem solving skills. On the other hand, some studies he examined showed that homework can cause physical and emotional fatigue, fuel negative attitudes about learning and limit leisure time for children. At the end of his analysis, Cooper recommended further study of such potential effects of homework.

Despite the weak correlation between homework and performance for young children, Cooper argues that a small amount of homework is useful for all students. Second-graders should not be doing two hours of homework each night, he said, but they also shouldn’t be doing no homework.

Not all education experts agree entirely with Cooper’s assessment.

Cathy Vatterott, an education professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, supports the “10-minute rule” as a maximum, but she thinks there is not sufficient proof that homework is helpful for students in elementary school.

“Correlation is not causation,” she said. “Does homework cause achievement, or do high achievers do more homework?”

Vatterott, the author of Rethinking Homework: Best Practices That Support Diverse Needs , thinks there should be more emphasis on improving the quality of homework tasks, and she supports efforts to eliminate homework for younger kids.

“I have no concerns about students not starting homework until fourth grade or fifth grade,” she said, noting that while the debate over homework will undoubtedly continue, she has noticed a trend toward limiting, if not eliminating, homework in elementary school.

The issue has been debated for decades. A TIME cover in 1999 read: “Too much homework! How it’s hurting our kids, and what parents should do about it.” The accompanying story noted that the launch of Sputnik in 1957 led to a push for better math and science education in the U.S. The ensuing pressure to be competitive on a global scale, plus the increasingly demanding college admissions process, fueled the practice of assigning homework.

“The complaints are cyclical, and we’re in the part of the cycle now where the concern is for too much,” Cooper said. “You can go back to the 1970s, when you’ll find there were concerns that there was too little, when we were concerned about our global competitiveness.”

Cooper acknowledged that some students really are bringing home too much homework, and their parents are right to be concerned.

“A good way to think about homework is the way you think about medications or dietary supplements,” he said. “If you take too little, they’ll have no effect. If you take too much, they can kill you. If you take the right amount, you’ll get better.”

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Amid Growing Debate About Homework, One School Bans It

Some research questions the value of homework prior to high school.

— -- More than 550 students at a Massachusetts elementary school will have less to carry home in their backpacks this year.

There will be no homework.

Kelly Elementary School in Holyoke has banned homework for the year with the intention of giving students all the instruction and extra help they may need during the school day.

“We want kids to go home tired; we want their brains to be tired,” Jackie Glasheen, principal of the school, whose kindergarten through 8th-grade students are nearly all poor and Hispanic, told ABC News. At home, she said, “we want them to engage with their families, talk about their school days and go to bed.”

Glasheen and the team of teachers who came up with the idea to end homework are among a growing number of U.S. educators and parents questioning the value of having children do schoolwork at home.

A Texas elementary school teacher last month drew wide attention by eliminating homework.

Brandy Young, 2nd-grade teacher at an elementary school in Godley, wrote parents in a letter shared widely on social media, that after "much research over the summer," she would not assign any homework except for uncompleted classwork.

"Research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance," she wrote in the letter handed to parents at a meet-the-teacher night Aug. 16.

"Rather, I ask that you spend your evenings doing things that are proven to correlate with student success," she wrote. "Eat dinner as a family, read together, play outside and get your child to bed early."

Texas Teacher Announces No-Homework Policy for Class

Nj teacher writes encouraging messages on students' desks before their exam.

Kelly Elementary School eliminated homework under circumstances uncommon in most schools.

Beginning this fall, nearly all schools in the Holyoke district, which has among the lowest standardized test scores in Massachusetts, are extending their school days by two hours. Elementary school students now go to school from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., instead of the previous 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Principal Glasheen said her school surveyed its teachers, parents and students before implementing the homework ban.

"The toughest stakeholder group was the teachers," she said. "Some of them felt [students] need that extra practice. They need that extra work."

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But Glasheen said the longer school days will give students more instructional time.

“Face time with a teacher … is going to impact their learning more than doing skill-and-practice work at home,” she said.

Not many schools are lengthening their school days by as much as the Holyoke district. But even without the longer days, a number of educators and researchers say homework is more of a hindrance than a help to students.

Author and education researcher Alfie Kohn says homework routinely produces frustration, exhaustion, family conflict, a loss of time for other activities and diminished excitement about learning.

“In classrooms and schools where little or no homework is assigned, results have been extremely positive in terms of students’ academic performance as well as their attitudes about learning,” Kohn told ABC News. “‘No homework’ should become the default, with homework assigned only on those days when there is compelling reason to believe that a given assignment will benefit most students.”

Kohn, whose books include "The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing," said research has failed to demonstrate any benefit to assigning homework, at least until students are in high school.

But Robert Pondiscio, senior fellow at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education policy think tank in Washington, D.C ., said the question of homework's value is not cut-and-dried. Pondiscio, who is also an adviser at Democracy Prep, a New York City charter school network, said homework may have a greater benefit for low-income students than affluent students.

“I still think we’re in a situation in this country where we have a far greater problem of expecting too little -- not too much -- of kids, and homework falls into that,” Pondiscio told ABC News.

The benefits of assigning homework also depend on what you want it to achieve, Pondiscio said. Homework may not lead to a higher grade on a test within six months, he said, but it can encourage behaviors and foster skills that yield long-term benefits such as practice in time-management

“Whenever I hear ‘homework doesn’t work,’ my first response is, ‘Well what do you want homework to do?’” Pondiscio said. “We always want to press the easy button in these discussions, and there isn’t one.”

Kelly Elementary School Principal Glasheen has heard from some critics of her school's homework ban who echo Pondiscio, telling her, "'You're letting kids off the hook,'" she said.

But she's also gotten support. The far-flung responses she's received suggests how widespread is the debate over homework's value.

“I have heard from principals from southern California, Dallas, Brazil," she said.

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Homeschooling in Texas

• Child Custody & Visitation

In Texas, parents have the option to homeschool their children. If you have a court order, the "Rights and Duties" section of your order should state if both parents or one parent get to make this decision. If you do not agree with the other parent homeschooling your child, and your order does not give you the right to make educational decisions, you would have to go back to court to modify your order.

What if the other parent and I disagree about homeschooling?

The first step is to look in your order to see who has the right to decide about your child’s education. If you do not have an order in place, there are no set rules about who can make these decisions. 

This right can be given exclusively to one parent or can be shared jointly by both parents. This right can sometimes be given to each parent “independently,” which could get complicated if the parents disagree about the best school choice for the child. If the right is shared jointly, sometimes an order may state what to do if the parents cannot agree, such as choosing a third party who will serve as a “tie-breaker” or  mediation .

To figure out who has the right to decide about education, look in the “Rights and Duties” section of your order. Talk to a lawyer if you need help understanding your order. 

If the other parent has the exclusive right to decide about the child’s education, then that parent can choose to homeschool the child. If you disagree with this decision, you would have to go back to court to modify the order. Hire a lawyer if you need help modifying the orders, and the other parent disagrees. 

Even if the other parent has the exclusive right to decide about education, they may still have a duty to inform you of their decision. If they take too long to tell you about the decision to homeschool, you may be able to file an enforcement action against them.

If you and the other parent share the right to make decisions about education jointly and still cannot agree, you may end up in court with a judge making the final decision about whether your child can be homeschooled. If this happens, the judge will make a decision based on the best interest of the child. The judge will consider many details about the situation and the child before making a decision. If you are homeschooling based on a desire to keep your child safe from COVID-19 or for other health reasons, a judge may consider this along with other factors regarding the child’s best interest.

What are the laws about homeschooling in Texas? Are there requirements that I need to meet to homeschool my child? 

Texas homeschooling requirements are general.

The first requirement for homeschooling in Texas is that school must be conducted in a “bona fide” manner. The homeschool cannot be a sham. The child should not stay home to get out of school, and the child must actually be taught at home.

The next requirement is that there must be a written curriculum, meaning that the student uses books, workbooks, or even written material on a video or computer screen. In addition, homeschoolers must teach children math, reading, good citizenship, spelling, and grammar. Science is not required. 

No standardized testing is required. In addition, there are no requirements for the teacher (often the parent) to meet in terms of training or credentials. And homeschooled students do not have a certain number of days to attend school during the year.

Homeschool can look many different ways. Some parents do standardized testing, and some do not. Some children only stay home to do school, while others participate in lots of activities outside the home with other homeschooled children. And some children participate in online programs from home, while others may use books. 

My child is being homeschooled and I have a standard possession order. What school calendar should I follow for visitation?

Unless your court orders say something different, “school” means the elementary or secondary school in which the child is enrolled or, if the child is not enrolled in an elementary or secondary school, the public school district in which the child primarily resides. See Texas Family Code 153.3101 . This means that you will likely need to follow the calendar for the school district where your child would attend if they went to public school, even if they are homeschooled. A school district’s calendar usually appears on its website. 

You may also want to go back to court to modify your order to clarify what school calendar controls when your child is being homeschooled or even to create a new visitation schedule that works best with your child’s homeschooling schedule. If you and the other parent agree to the modification, you can find forms and instructions at   I need to change a custody, visitation, or support order (Modification) .

If the other parent does not agree to the modification, hire an attorney to help you.

Can the other parent pull my child out of school to homeschool them?

If the other parent has the exclusive right to decide about education for the child, they can pull them out of school to homeschool. If you and the other parent have joint power to make decisions about education, you would have to both agree about homeschooling. Occasionally, an order will have specific provisions about homeschooling, in which case you should follow what your order states regarding whether each parent can make decisions about homeschooling. 

How do I know how the children are doing academically if they're being homeschooled? 

Check with the other parent. They may be able to give you a good description of how your child is doing academically and may even be providing yearly or regular testing to track your child’s progress, but state law does not require this.

Suppose the other parent is unwilling to give you this information. In that case, you may want to go to court to modify your order to require them to update you about academic progress if they continue to homeschool your child. 

My child is homeschooled. Do I have a right to be involved in their extracurricular activities (dance, soccer, etc.) that the other parent signed them up for? 

The Standard Possession Order gives both parents the right “ to attend school activities , including school lunches, performances, and field trips.” Texas Family Code 153.073 .

This can get complicated when the child’s school is conducted at home. One option to ensure that you can participate in your child’s activities — whether they are considered school activities or not — would be to modify your court order to give you a broader right to participate in your child’s activities.

Is homeschooling the same as remote learning?

Homeschooling is different from administering remote learning (through a public or private school) in your home. With homeschooling, the parent chooses the curriculum, whereas, with remote learning, the parent is only helping a child make their way through a curriculum provided by the public or private school.

I am about to get a custody order or a divorce. Can I address issues involving homeschooling in that order?

The Standard Possession Order does not address homeschooling. If you want to create an order that addresses these issues, you should hire an attorney to help you draft the order. If you are getting your order through the Child Support Division of the Attorney General’s Office, you will not get a customized order. So if you want a custom order that addresses homeschooling, you will need to go through the district court instead.

Suppose both parents cannot agree about homeschooling issues when setting up the order. In that case, the judge will decide based on the child’s best interest and consider the details about the situation and the child before deciding.

My child is homeschooled. At what age is my child required to be in school? How many days are they required to attend school?

Children who are six years old as of September 1 in a given year must attend school for that particular school year. It can be a homeschool, a public school, or a private school. Homeschools and private schools do not have to follow the compulsory attendance rules that public schools do, so homeschooled children do not have to attend school for any particular number of days during the year. 

Can CPS use homeschooling against a parent?

The Texas Family Code protects parents who homeschool by stating that CPS cannot use homeschooling as a reason to remove a child from their home ( Texas Family Code 262.116(a)(1) ) or as a reason for terminating a parent’s rights ( Texas Family Code 161.001(c) ). 

Related Guides

I need to change a custody, visitation, or support order (modification)., related articles, child custody and conservatorship, parents' rights to participate in their children's education, changing a custody, visitation or child support order, child custody, responding to a modification case.

• Other Family Issues

15 rights parents have in public schools

by: Hank Pellissier | Updated: August 29, 2023

Print article

Is it legal for a teacher to spank your child? Can you make sure Creationism isn’t taught? Do students, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status, have the right to a free public school education?

Finding answers to these and other loaded questions about your rights and your children’s rights in U.S. public schools isn’t obvious. Should you start by looking to the federal government? Not so fast. Our founding fathers didn’t claim federal authority over public education. In 1791, they passed off the responsibility of teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic (and discipline!) to the 14 states, as written in the Constitution’s 10th Amendment . Yes, there’s a Department of Education in D.C., but as it freely admits on its website, “Education is primarily a state and local responsibility.”

To learn your rights as a public school parent, think local. Start by checking the standards of your state’s Department of Education, from Alabama to Wyoming. Then, turn to your school district and child’s school for answers. You can find information on your school and district by looking both up at GreatSchools.org .)

This said, in the centuries that have followed since the Constitution was written, the Supreme Court has added substantial constitutional rights for parents and children. Congress overcame its initial hesitations to pass sweeping education reforms like the 1964 Civil Rights Act , the Education for All Handicapped Children Act , the No Child Left Behind Act , and numerous landmark policies .

Here are 15 of your unalienable rights in the U.S. public school system.

The right to a free education, all children, regardless of immigration status, have a right to a free education, the right to be free from discrimination.

The U.S. Constitution guarantees equal treatment to everybody, including public school students. You have the right to demand the education you believe your child needs. (For support, you can contact the ACLU .) If you think your child is unfairly on a “slow track” and is being excluded from college preparatory classes due to racial or class stereotypes, you can challenge this placement. If your daughter isn’t allowed into classes like woodshop or auto shop because of her gender, that’s illegal. If she’s prevented from attending classes, graduation, or other activities because she’s pregnant, that violates her Constitutional rights. Girls also have the right to receive equal athletic opportunities .

Right to learn English and get translation services in school

Right to be safe in school.

Many state laws require schools to prevent bullying and to provide a safe and supportive learning environment, with a School Safety Plan your school’s principal has designed. Civil rights laws are in place to protect students from bullying at all federally funded schools . Teachers and fellow students cannot harass your children about their race, national origin, color, sex, disability, ethnicity, or religion. If your child is victimized, you can notify the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice . If a student makes the school an unsafe environment by carrying a weapon or explosive, starting fights, robbing students, selling drugs, or sexually assaulting classmates, you have the right to ask for the suspension or expulsion of the student.

Right to freedom of speech and religion

Right to information and participation, right to learn about evolution, not creationism or intelligent design, the right for your children to opt out of sexual health and hiv/aids prevention classes, right to opt your children out of standardized testing, right to opt your children out of the classroom entirely, right to privacy, rights of children with special needs and disabilities for special instruction, the right to get rid of bad teachers, rights for student athletes to participate, homes nearby.

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What’s the Right Amount of Homework?

Decades of research show that homework has some benefits, especially for students in middle and high school—but there are risks to assigning too much.

Many teachers and parents believe that homework helps students build study skills and review concepts learned in class. Others see homework as disruptive and unnecessary, leading to burnout and turning kids off to school. Decades of research show that the issue is more nuanced and complex than most people think: Homework is beneficial, but only to a degree. Students in high school gain the most, while younger kids benefit much less.

The National PTA and the National Education Association support the “ 10-minute homework guideline ”—a nightly 10 minutes of homework per grade level. But many teachers and parents are quick to point out that what matters is the quality of the homework assigned and how well it meets students’ needs, not the amount of time spent on it.

The guideline doesn’t account for students who may need to spend more—or less—time on assignments. In class, teachers can make adjustments to support struggling students, but at home, an assignment that takes one student 30 minutes to complete may take another twice as much time—often for reasons beyond their control. And homework can widen the achievement gap, putting students from low-income households and students with learning disabilities at a disadvantage.

However, the 10-minute guideline is useful in setting a limit: When kids spend too much time on homework, there are real consequences to consider.

Small Benefits for Elementary Students

As young children begin school, the focus should be on cultivating a love of learning, and assigning too much homework can undermine that goal. And young students often don’t have the study skills to benefit fully from homework, so it may be a poor use of time (Cooper, 1989 ; Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). A more effective activity may be nightly reading, especially if parents are involved. The benefits of reading are clear: If students aren’t proficient readers by the end of third grade, they’re less likely to succeed academically and graduate from high school (Fiester, 2013 ).

For second-grade teacher Jacqueline Fiorentino, the minor benefits of homework did not outweigh the potential drawback of turning young children against school at an early age, so she experimented with dropping mandatory homework. “Something surprising happened: They started doing more work at home,” Fiorentino writes . “This inspiring group of 8-year-olds used their newfound free time to explore subjects and topics of interest to them.” She encouraged her students to read at home and offered optional homework to extend classroom lessons and help them review material.

Moderate Benefits for Middle School Students

As students mature and develop the study skills necessary to delve deeply into a topic—and to retain what they learn—they also benefit more from homework. Nightly assignments can help prepare them for scholarly work, and research shows that homework can have moderate benefits for middle school students (Cooper et al., 2006 ). Recent research also shows that online math homework, which can be designed to adapt to students’ levels of understanding, can significantly boost test scores (Roschelle et al., 2016 ).

There are risks to assigning too much, however: A 2015 study found that when middle school students were assigned more than 90 to 100 minutes of daily homework, their math and science test scores began to decline (Fernández-Alonso, Suárez-Álvarez, & Muñiz, 2015 ). Crossing that upper limit can drain student motivation and focus. The researchers recommend that “homework should present a certain level of challenge or difficulty, without being so challenging that it discourages effort.” Teachers should avoid low-effort, repetitive assignments, and assign homework “with the aim of instilling work habits and promoting autonomous, self-directed learning.”

In other words, it’s the quality of homework that matters, not the quantity. Brian Sztabnik, a veteran middle and high school English teacher, suggests that teachers take a step back and ask themselves these five questions :

• How long will it take to complete?
• Have all learners been considered?
• Will an assignment encourage future success?
• Will an assignment place material in a context the classroom cannot?
• Does an assignment offer support when a teacher is not there?

More Benefits for High School Students, but Risks as Well

By the time they reach high school, students should be well on their way to becoming independent learners, so homework does provide a boost to learning at this age, as long as it isn’t overwhelming (Cooper et al., 2006 ; Marzano & Pickering, 2007 ). When students spend too much time on homework—more than two hours each night—it takes up valuable time to rest and spend time with family and friends. A 2013 study found that high school students can experience serious mental and physical health problems, from higher stress levels to sleep deprivation, when assigned too much homework (Galloway, Conner, & Pope, 2013 ).

Homework in high school should always relate to the lesson and be doable without any assistance, and feedback should be clear and explicit.

Teachers should also keep in mind that not all students have equal opportunities to finish their homework at home, so incomplete homework may not be a true reflection of their learning—it may be more a result of issues they face outside of school. They may be hindered by issues such as lack of a quiet space at home, resources such as a computer or broadband connectivity, or parental support (OECD, 2014 ). In such cases, giving low homework scores may be unfair.

Since the quantities of time discussed here are totals, teachers in middle and high school should be aware of how much homework other teachers are assigning. It may seem reasonable to assign 30 minutes of daily homework, but across six subjects, that’s three hours—far above a reasonable amount even for a high school senior. Psychologist Maurice Elias sees this as a common mistake: Individual teachers create homework policies that in aggregate can overwhelm students. He suggests that teachers work together to develop a school-wide homework policy and make it a key topic of back-to-school night and the first parent-teacher conferences of the school year.

Parents Play a Key Role

Homework can be a powerful tool to help parents become more involved in their child’s learning (Walker et al., 2004 ). It can provide insights into a child’s strengths and interests, and can also encourage conversations about a child’s life at school. If a parent has positive attitudes toward homework, their children are more likely to share those same values, promoting academic success.

But it’s also possible for parents to be overbearing, putting too much emphasis on test scores or grades, which can be disruptive for children (Madjar, Shklar, & Moshe, 2015 ). Parents should avoid being overly intrusive or controlling—students report feeling less motivated to learn when they don’t have enough space and autonomy to do their homework (Orkin, May, & Wolf, 2017 ; Patall, Cooper, & Robinson, 2008 ; Silinskas & Kikas, 2017 ). So while homework can encourage parents to be more involved with their kids, it’s important to not make it a source of conflict.

OPTING OUT – Step by Step

How to Opt Out/Decline/Refuse STAAR

January 2024 Update: This article has been updated to reflect the practice of the TEA which permits schools to accept parental refusals without placing the assessment in front of the student.

In response to a lot of “how do I do this” questions, we’ve put together this step by step guide on opting out.  This is a general guide of the various steps and forms a parent can follow to Opt Out of the STAAR assessment. If you are looking for an easy, non-confrontational approach, we can’t offer you that. Schools have been instructed to state that they can’t permit it. Some schools go further and falsely claim that state or federal law requires all students to take the STAAR assessments. Others even make implicit or overt threats to parents.

So while all of our forms and letters are polite and civil, there is  no guarantee that your school district will work with you. Fortunately, the past few years have brought more cooperation and the chances for a better outcome are greater than ever.  But if you are met with resistance, you still hold the power.  As Peggy Robertson of United Opt Out said, opting out is, at its heart, an act of civil disobedience. So join the hundreds and thousands of parents locally, statewide and nationally who are standing up and speaking out against the standardization of our children’s education.

Inform the school that you intend to opt out of the assessment. You are not asking them to let you. You are telling them your decision. You can use the Master Opt Out letter , and customize it to your needs.

A lot of parents have asked whether you must tell the school.  If you simply intend to refuse the assessment, you do not.  However, if you want to preserve the argument that Texas law permits you to Opt Out, you must give notice as described in the Opt Out letters.  We also encourage notice so that the school understands that the assessment system is being protested by the parents.

It is extremely unlikely you will receive a response from the school indicating that your child will not be administered the STAAR.  You will almost certainly receive a response from the school telling you they can’t permit it. At that time you can send either the response letter (if they are citing legalities) or a follow up refusal letter (if they simply say they can’t allow it).  In that case, go to STEP THREE.

Some schools have taken to simply acknowledging the letter which leaves the parent in a bit of limbo.  They acknowledge they received the letter but they don’t tell you what they are going to do.  We take this as an opportunity to explore the refusal option.  If you get one of these non-committal acknowledgements, we recommend you send a facilitated refusal request (form forthcoming).

If the facilitated refusal request is agreed to, you simply need to follow up and iron out the details (will you stay home on the main administration day, if not where will she go, do they need you or her to sign anything, etc).  You may get emailed with the list of “consequences” for refusing.  Now is not the time to engage that list.  Now is the time to get a refusal set up.  You can simply acknowledge that you understand what they have communicated to you.  If your request for a facilitated refusal is granted, continue to STEP FIVE.  Otherwise go to STEP THREE.

STEP THREE:

At this point, unless the school relents, you will need to make a decision. The choices of the parent here are multiple:

(A) Keep your child home on STAAR days. If you choose (A), you must be aware of not only the primary test days, but the full testing window. Schools may assess students after the main STAAR administration day as long as it is within the window. Testing windows may be found here .  ( 2023-2024 Calendar , as TEA appears to have made its calendar page private!!) Now a school is not REQUIRED to use the full testing window, but they can.  Unless you learn that they school has completed all assessments and returned the testing materials to the state, then you should assume the entire window might be used.  NOTE: the assessment windows are very long now, and it may be difficult to completely stay out of all assessment days.

(B) Send them for the assessment and instruct them to page to the end  without answering any questions, submit it and confirm their submission.  This is a far easier option than refusing a paper administration ever was.  This is because the assessment can be submitted blank without ever interacting with the proctor.  Although some schools are adding steps of telling students to raise their hands before submitting, that is not a requirement.  Instruct your student to just submit it when they get to the end, being careful not to answer any questions along the way.  If you choose (B) be aware the some schools have told children during testing that their parents just called and said it was OK to take the assessment. Should you go this route, create a password that the child must hear before they take the assessment. If the teacher can’t repeat it, the child doesn’t take the assessment.  Refusing in this manner can be done without any notice to the school at all, although we strongly urge parents to make a written record of their protest.

(C) Keep your kid home the main day of STAAR and then return and refuse the assessment on the makeup day.  Some school districts have permitted children to return to class on makeup days without being assessed. They have required that the child and parent come together to the office before school and write “refused” on the assessment (or sign some other indicator). This is a common sense approach to a refusal to test. It keeps the child in class, minimizes absences and meets their requirements. You can request Return to Class on Makeup Days using this letter.

(D) Advocate for the school to accept your refusal.  This option has become available to parents over the last few years since the TEA has made clear that schools may accept a parental refusal.  Before this, the position of the school was always that “if the student is on campus, we are required to put the assessment in front of them.”  This led to numerous situations where devious test administrators lied to students, cajoled them to disobey their parents or otherwise pressured students who had been told to refuse to participate instead.  The TEA has made clear that this is not required and that the school may accept the parental refusal and simply submit the assessment for scoring as if the student refused in person.  Review this article on the parental refusal.

I want to be super clear – no matter what approach you take, you must prepare for the possibility that the school will try to pull your child for assessment.  No matter what they have said or how much you trust them — BE PREPARED.  Let your child know not to take it.  Tell the kid to call you if they pull him for STAAR.  Walk in with them.   Set up a password system .  Have them trained to tab through if they get stuck in an assessment room!  It’s sad but every year parents send their kids back to school thinking their opt out will be honored, and the school pulls the kid who is unprepared and caves in and takes the assessment.  That’s on us as parents.  BE PREPARED!  Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.  Be one of the many success stories, not the surprise and disappointed victim of school bullying.

This step used to talk about how 5th and 8th grade parents had to fight threats of retention.   Great news!  Promotion is not dependent on STAAR results in ANY GRADE!    There is a recent change in the law which requires schools to provide 30  15 hours of tutoring (in a 4:1 3:1 ratio) for each reading or math STAAR not passed.  (HB 4545 HB 1416).  Parents can opt out of this ( see letter) and schools are  not permitted to remove a child from foundation or enrichment curriculum to tutor them (i.e.  no loss of electives! ).  Review school forms and enrollment documents carefully.  NEVER waive the 4:1 tutoring ratio unless it is part of an agreement that you are satisfied with to minimize or eliminate tutoring.  Never sign it as part of general enrollment documents.

If your child either refuses to complete the assessment on an administration day or if they refuse on a makeup day, you may use the FERPA corrective letter to ask to have the scored assessment removed from your child’s educational records at both the state and local level. The TEA will still score the assessment, and your request will almost certainly be denied, but you can demand your letter be included in his academic file.  THIS SHOULD ONLY BE DONE AFTER YOU RECEIVE SCORE REPORTS.

Report back! We want to hear about any districts that act in a bad manner towards opt out parents. We also want to hear any stories of schools that are understanding and work with you! Use our contact form   to let us know how it goes!

A NOTE ON TRUANCY:

Some districts  threaten truancy charges or send notices about truancy to parents who keep their kids out for all or a large part of the assessment window. But we see this less and less since truancy laws have been modified (see 2017/2016 notes below), and because most parents use some type of agreed or in person refusal to get back to class.  However, if you are missing days to opt out and receive a threat, you should not ignore this.

Rather, inform the school that you have engaged in a home school program on the dates of absence. Let them know that your program included reading, writing, social studies, science and citizenship. Once you have done that, you will have laid the foundation for a defense of truancy charges. It is likely that the school district will not proceed further at that point.  For more information on Dual Enrollment Home Schooling, read this .

Update for 2017:   The following addition from 2016 holds true.  We have had no reports of any truancy related charges from opt out parents in 2016.  >>> Update for 2016: Truancy laws have changed.  The threat is no longer as great as it once was, although it has not entirely disappeared.  In particular, the three day in four week provision, which was used to intimidate parents who held their kids out for a full testing window, has been removed! This is great news.  An unvetted comparison of the old law and the new law is here .

Updated 1/22/24

Comments (244)

March 4, 2015 at 8:33 pm

What do you do when the STAAR test is used to decide if the child is promoted? They use this in 5th and 8th grade.

March 5, 2015 at 12:01 am

The Education Code provides that a child who is retained due to failure to perform satisfactorily on the STAAR assessment can be promoted by a Grade Placement Committee. The GPC is not allowed to only consider the child’s STAAR results in deciding to promote or retain. The committee must consider grades and teacher recommendations also. We have a GPC Meeting Guide for parents posted in our Forms and Resources for more information.

February 20, 2022 at 10:21 am

My opinion it does not help thw kids at all they should go by their grades not by a test thats they do at the end of the year.. whats all that effort the kids do all year for..

April 23, 2023 at 1:25 pm

I am having trouble accessing the “do not score” letter. I have used Microsoft edge and Google chrome and I get an error page that says “ooops! That page can’t be found.” My daughter is in 3 rd grade and starts her first test-reading STAAR- on April 26, so I am trying to do this with little time. Please help.

April 24, 2023 at 11:41 am

We no longer use that letter. The Step by Step has been updated. Thank you.

April 25, 2023 at 10:10 am

You are making us pay for the Do Not Score letter. We need it as the school is marking our son’s test as “scored” even though we opted out with the letter given to the school. Why make us pay for that specific letter? Thanks.

May 23, 2023 at 11:29 am

The Do Not Score letter is no longer in use. The FERPA Corrective letter was released for our subscribers initially. It is now released for general use. Running this website has costs and we use advertising and supporters to cover the costs. Would you prefer I pay all costs out of my pocket in addition to donating the time to maintain this site?

April 25, 2023 at 1:34 am

This doesnt work for Staar alt.

Studemts cant refuse staar alt. How woukd pare ts opt their kid out.

Testing window is a month..

May 23, 2023 at 11:31 am

Schools can accept parental refusal. Some do. Some facilitate it via ARD. But as we have pointed out in other comments here, for a school that is determined to fight you, it can be difficult to opt out. I’d focus on making them understand that they can accept your refusal.

May 6, 2019 at 10:06 am

There are grade placement committees who will place your child in the respective grade based on they’re yearly average

May 7, 2019 at 10:44 am

Grade Placement Committees promote or retain as a matter of law. Placement is not a GPC option.

December 8, 2021 at 10:45 am

This is no longer part of the law

December 8, 2021 at 10:17 pm

Where does it say this? Our district is still saying it’s true. Or just haven’t updated their website.

December 9, 2021 at 10:40 am

Where does what say what? What are they saying is still true? I’d like to answer but need to understand the question.

April 5, 2023 at 11:55 am

Does the option to Opt Out of the STAAR test also apply to High School students?

April 6, 2023 at 2:09 pm

Of course it does. In high school, you will have to form a plan for graduation that does not include STAAR. Read these two articles for more information.

But They Have to Pass STAAR to Graduate What About High School? (updated 2019)

April 20, 2023 at 8:55 pm

So if we opt our kids out of testing.Do that means they won’t graduate? What are the repercussions of not taking it?

April 22, 2023 at 4:10 pm

Well first of for Grades 3-8 that has nothing to do with graduation at all. As for high school you need to review the following articles:

But They Have to Pass STAAR to Graduate

What About High School? (updated 2019)

April 25, 2023 at 1:35 am

Explain how a parent can opt. Their child out of staar alt?

Or is opting out juat for kids who can talk and verbalize refusla?

May 23, 2023 at 11:30 am

Yeah, that’s a real problem. You would need a school that is willing to accept the parental refusal. Some ARDs have facilitated this. But with the expanded testing window, a difficult school can make this a hard goal to accomplish.

April 9, 2024 at 5:33 am

When submitting these refusal forms…will it be best to submit days prior, beginning of school year, or can it be done day of testing? I just now found this information and have looked for years until friend forwarded this to me. His testing is this week he has done testing prior just because the school, counselor and diagnostician all said was required since he was in 3rd grade.

April 9, 2024 at 7:49 am

It really just depends. When Do I Give My Opt Out Notice

March 5, 2015 at 10:55 pm

You can take your kid to school on make up days ten minutes too late for them to administer the test. I did this last year. Worked fine. If they give you a hard time you can say you can just keep your kid out for the rest of the day. Make it up to them if they want your kid to be counted as present for the rest of the school day.

I chose to keep my son out of school on testing days rather than have him write “Refused” on the test because he if wrote anything on the test he would have scored a zero. Since he wasn’t there for testing his STAAR results came back as “NOT SCORED.”

March 6, 2015 at 1:16 pm

Parents who choose to do this should be aware that a school can extend testing past the scheduled end of the school day in order to enable completion. Most don’t because they have staffing issues, but it is a possibility.

As far as a zero on STAAR goes, when was the last time anyone was asked their STAAR scores for any purpose in life? For me personally, a Zero means the same thing as Not Scored.

March 28, 2016 at 9:16 pm

Unfortunately, it does go against the schools overall rating for it to be a score of zero. So by doing all this you really are hurting the teacher who taught your a child all year, because it makes him or her look like they taught your child nothing. Also, this is hurting the school’s budget, which equals dollars that are taken away from your child’s public education. I’m not sure if it does,if it is simply “not scored.” But the zero does plummet the schools rating and funding from the state. This can also lead to the TEA stepping in and taking over a school for under performance. Sadly, the kids suffer because you basically have to teach to the test all year long when the TEA takes over. I’m saying all this to say, be careful with your advice. Parents want to do the right thing for their children, but is this really helping them?

March 28, 2016 at 10:33 pm

Be careful with your own advice. Cite a single documented case of funding cuts, teacher reprisals or school takeover stemming from opt out. You can’t because it has never happened. All those things happen from opt ins. Stop spreading myth and urban legend just to gather more data.

March 29, 2016 at 11:15 pm

I was excited to Read the info in this string until this comment. Unfortunately, all your credibility is lost. Rather than an organization trying to provide information for parents to make informed decisions for the best interest of their children, this shows the true motivation: attack anyone who questions. It’s frustrating because this is a significant issue for my family (and I’m sure many others), and I had been so encouraged that I had found a legitimate source of information.

March 29, 2016 at 11:32 pm

Oh I see, one comment you deem intemperate means none of the information provided is good. No refutation of it, you just didn’t like my attitude? That’s your choice. But sadly in the last three years at exactly this time of year, people either anonymously or with their “title” come to this site and make baseless claims and talk about horrible potential consequences, that have never happened. In the Northeast, there are opt out number 25 times greater than Texas. They have never lost federal funds due to opt out. If someone comes on here making claims, as the site I owner, I am fully entitled to demand proof of their claims. That’s so you can make an informed decision. Maybe you found his post interesting and concerning. I found it a boring repeat of claims that have been made for the last three years with zero evidence to support them. If you want a legitimate source of information, I think you would like to see some proof that those claims actually have merit. I’m sorry, but after three years of this, I don’t have a lot of patience with scare tactics from anonymous commenters.

April 9, 2016 at 8:26 am

This comment is not talking about opting out. It is talking about writing on the test and receiving a score of zero. I can attest that schools and teachers are harmed when scores are low. I’ve lived through two schools being reconstituted, had a dozen friends lose their jobs because the scool had to cut a certain percentage of faculty. Let me be clear, I SUPPORT OPT OUT. I just think you shouldn’t hurt the teachers by writing “refused” and getting a zero.

April 9, 2016 at 3:27 pm

Then it is up to the schools not to threaten and intimidate parents who opt out by keeping their kids home. Again, the things that you cite did not happen as a result of opt outs.

May 3, 2016 at 2:15 am

This site has sited not one single “law” protecting a child or parent’s right to opt out without the fear of the school district exercising IT’S rights as protected by out State Laws. I hate the STARR test with a passion and feel it is an awful waste of time our children could be using to REALLY learn subjects and not to simply learn how to prepare for testing on them. However, an equal it not bigger waste of time is the junk this site promotes and feeds your parents who would rather listen to someones twisting and spinning of the Texas Education Code not to mention many laws governing or supporting said codes. Wake up people…this site is doing nothing but feeding off your fears…

May 4, 2016 at 12:07 am

Actually, we cite 26.010 of the Texas Education Code. We also specifically note the possibile consequences of opting out. We also relay actual data to parents regarding such things as retention rates. Unlike the schools, which claim that 5th and 8th graders MUST pass STAAR to be promoted, we tell the actual facts. Unlike schools that tell 5th and 8th graders that they must go to summer school if they fail STAAR we inform parents of how the actual AI is determined.

As an “expert” can you cite a single court decision which contradicts our interpretation of any Texas statute. Of course you can’t because you would have done so in your little tirade. And of course if there were any such case law, we would have it cited already. By the way, you should read the Texas Supreme Court decision noting thay school districts have no “rights” – which is a very basic legal concept that you clearly don’t understand. Perhaps you should post stories of parents who followed the steps on this site and suffered terrible consequences. Oh wait, you can’t do that or you would have. Maybe you should tell them about how we posted a process to let parents view their child’s STAAR assessment that doesn’t work. Oh wait, it does work. Damn. You almost had us there. Maybe you should discuss the 300+ times the Education Code defines the STAAR as a test and not an assessment. Ah damn, I had that backwards. Sorry. Honestly, other than whiny vitriol, do you have anything to contribute. Maybe you should identify yourself so we can assess your credibility.

April 5, 2019 at 5:09 pm

Ask any teacher that has been ostracized during a performance review because of student scores. Student scores are considered when a teacher is seeking a pay raise or seeking a promotion. As a parent, I encouraged my children to take the test because I lose absolutely nothing from them taking it. As a teacher, I loose salary and promotion points when students refuse/miss taking the test. Now you were saying about any case where “funding was withheld?” That’s how.

April 5, 2019 at 6:27 pm

So because schools act badly due to high stakes, we should all jump on board high stakes? With respect to your pay, that has nothing to do with federal funding for 95% participation. Your comment is irrelevant and does not rebut my point in the least. Teacher reprisal? Again, I ask for specific anecdotes and not a single one was provided. But let’s examine your tale of employment woe. As a consenting adult, you chose to enter into a field that had those parameters to your compensation. Private schools don’t use STAAR so you could seek employment there. Or maybe you should go to work for a district that values you as more than a number. But a dyslexic child doesn’t have the choice to not be dyslexic while receiving his constitutionally guaranteed free public education. An English Language Learner doesn’t automatically get academic fluency so he can help you get a raise. Let’s focus on the kids who are the victims and not you for a moment, and understand that as a parent, if I deem an assessment injurious to my kids, or discriminatory against other kids, my duty is to act on that, not to make sure you get a raise.

April 23, 2023 at 6:50 pm

Yes, tell em!!! Thank you for clearing that up. 🤗 This link has giving me all the answers to all the questions I’ve had and could not find ANYWHERE else. Thank you so so much!!! Btw, I am absolutely getting a kick out of and loving your replies to these people that obviously had nothing better to do than jump on a site they’re not for to talk crap.

March 29, 2016 at 6:12 pm

Good! i am burned out with this bs test and some of these schools. I have begged for help and only when your child fails a benchmark do they decide more help is needed. Standardized test does not promote smarter children. Texas has a ridiculous expectation and we are very low rates in the us. They are doing plenty wrong starting w this test!!! Many kids can’t pass it and they don’t deserve punishment I am disgusted they hold students with disabilities to the same standards and refuse to support earlier on when a difference could be made. I personally have signed under ard to accept scores as is. The principal is now doing that for all special educational students. They only have to write their names and be considered in compliance as “participated”. Much better approach for special Ed. While that doesn’t help my younger child who is expected to take it this year in third I plan on using tools on here to opt him out.

May 6, 2017 at 12:04 pm

So how do we get out of summer school if they fail the test twice? Hate STAAR! Mine are SpEd.

April 7, 2016 at 6:37 pm

I am a Texas teacher. If a student does not take the STAAR test that in no way hurts me professionally nor does it affect the school budget or funding. I’ve been an educator for 26 years and parents need to opt out, opt out, opt out! Teaching is nothing but STAAR centered. Texas children are not receiving a quality education when all they’re taught is how to pass this standardized test.

April 7, 2016 at 10:50 pm

Thank you for speaking up!

May 6, 2016 at 9:23 am

I’m so glad you said that because it’s the truth!!

November 2, 2016 at 2:08 pm

Thank you for supporting those of us who feel we have to take a stand for our children and their education.

February 18, 2018 at 3:40 pm

My mom taught for 25 years and hated preparing kids for the STAAR. She could never teach what she wanted to and the kids panicked. my 9 year old does great with class work, but freaks out and has panic attacks when it comes to these tests. I hate this time of the year because I’ll see as far as notes go are get a lot of sleep, eat a healthy meal and be at school on time.

April 27, 2018 at 1:16 pm

Thank you for your honesty!

April 27, 2021 at 10:26 pm

My neighbor is a teacher & he encourage me to opt out of the STAAR test. That must mean something? I opt out but they expect my kid to take it before entering 9th grade. I don’t want to get in trouble. Should I talk to the counselor? Thanks for your info. Keep it going.

June 9, 2021 at 5:10 pm

You don’t want to get in trouble? The good news is that you aren’t a student anymore. The principal has no power to punish you. You are the parent. You make the educational decisions for your kids. There are not STAAR police. The schools won’t agree with you, but they can’t punish you.

June 21, 2021 at 10:17 am

I love and appreciate your reply! Unfortunately, I don’t think it applies today. (really wish it still did!) I am searching and searching for anything to justify me opting my 9th grade, very dyslexic son out of the English Staar testing for which they are doing the make up test tomorrow. He is having major anxiety about having to take this test. He was a remote learner all of his 9th grade year and made all A’s and one B. Bet ya can guess what class he got the B… yup, English! He does NOT test well and English is the worst for him! Oh how I hope you are still on here and have some insight for me.

April 20, 2018 at 9:00 pm

That’s the problem… Teachers teach for this stupid test and ratings. It is the stupidest idea ever. Up north we never had such a test. Not all kids are good at test and shouldn’t have such pressure put on them or else. It’s a big money making scheme people.

June 27, 2018 at 6:54 pm

The kids aren’t in service to the schools, teachers or to the district. It’s a perverted way of thinking to say that what is good for kids hurts the school so let’s hurt our kids.

May 10, 2023 at 1:56 pm

It doesn’t make the teacher look bad. It makes administrative in the counselors and assistant principals look bad because they don’t do any accommodations or are not willing to hear the parents that have students who are 504, my daughter suffers from stress and very bad anxiety every time testing comes around. And nobody wants to hear that. She cannot test in big groups and they still continue putting her in big groups.

April 24, 2018 at 8:35 pm

So did he get promoted to the next grade

May 6, 2018 at 6:04 pm

We have had zero reports of opt out kids being retained. Not saying it hasn’t happened or can’t happen, but the people who post here are very vocal and if one of them had been retained, we would know it.

April 7, 2019 at 8:37 pm

They threatened us when our daughter was in the fifth grade. We kept her home during test and make up days then asked for a grade placement committee. The meeting consisted mostly of threats and false law citations by them but we calmly replied and handed over printouts we had culled from this site and a few others to each committee member. They then told us they needed to stop the meeting and that it would be continued the next day with other administrators in attendance. They told us that we needed to bring a plan we planned to follow over the summer to make sure our daughter stayed on grade level (she was an A/B student) since she had missed so much school. We showed up the next day with 5 things listed on a piece of paper that we normally do every week/month (museums, vacations, library) and brought along her report card. The committee promoted her but made sure to tell us know they did not like having to do so and we had somehow damaged our child. She is now in the 7th grade. 5th grade was our first rodeo so to speak and I’ve learned since that if you walk in with a 5” binder full of Federal and Texas Code along with a few OCR and TEA manuals, the meetings tend to move more quickly and to the point.

May 13, 2019 at 5:24 pm

What did you have in your binder. I know I will need this soon!

May 11, 2022 at 6:03 am

This is incorrect. We have students who come in two hours late and we still administer the assessment.

May 12, 2022 at 10:41 am

It’s not incorrect. Neither is your example. She didn’t say 10 minutes late, she said ten minute TOO late to administer. Meaning there isn’t enough time left in the day. This is a strategy many parents use successfully. The caveat is that schools can extend the day to complete the assessment, but most won’t due to staffing issues. But they could. It’s not a silver bullet but it usually works.

March 11, 2015 at 9:41 pm

Just as a side note, teachers in a lower performing elementary school in Wichita Falls, Texas were warned at the beginning of the school year that teachers that did not produce acceptable scores would be fired. Teachers are forced to “write off” students who won’t make the cut, and concentrate on those on the borderline. Of course, those who exceed expectations sit idly by, stalled in neutral when they could have achieved so much more. Teachers are in survival mode.

November 19, 2015 at 10:03 pm

This is absolutely true everywhere not just low performing. We are desperately trying to keep afloat.

March 28, 2016 at 8:07 pm

Well isn’t that lovely! I live in WF and unfortunately my daughter goes to the worst elementary school in the district. My poor 10 yr old is crying, can’t sleep and has horrible stomach cramps tonight, the night before this f*****g test!

March 28, 2016 at 10:34 pm

Keep her home!

April 9, 2017 at 9:21 pm

At my elementary where I work and my 2nd grader attend . I in front office have to call any kids who are absent and get their parents to bring them to school unless they have fever… and our admins are willing to gonpick them up.. my daughter also gets stomach cramps and headaches during start.. so sad I feel so bad for these kids

August 22, 2019 at 3:58 pm

Schools cannot force students to attend if they have no fever…This is legitimately not a thing.

August 23, 2019 at 9:36 am

What are you saying isn’t a thing? Schools calling parents on STAAR days and going to pick up kids?

March 29, 2016 at 6:20 pm

Exactly pity the teachers who cares what stress and anxiety it is causing on children! This is why I have zero respect. They only care Abt themselves not Abt the poor kids who are having break downs over the pressure of this stupid test! Freaking strike teachers!!! Boycott the test! There’s an idea! If everyone hates it so much we all need to get off our butts and go with teachers to Austin and protest. We pay the taxes! Think they will listen when no teachers are in the classroom? I bet they will. But so far no one is willing to put up a fight to change it or the few who are don’t get back up. But give the kids help when their parents are begging for it. Just try writing off my children. Already died one district I’ll do it again!

April 2, 2016 at 9:27 am

The thing is SO many people talk but will not actually do anything about it. If every parent would stand up to the state then they would have to do something. I know there is not one person who loves this testing. I agree there needs to be sort of accountability but not a pass or fail.

January 12, 2022 at 9:45 pm

But will you quit your job? But will you go protest and become unpaid and put your own kids and family at jeopardy to stand up for this? If not then don’t bash teachers. The people who make the real difference are PARENTS. Teachers do not have a lot of say in the matter. Parents can make real changes. Inform parents of their rights and how to be protected and I guarantee more people will stand up. BUT if you are not willing to lose your job about this then DO NOT expect teachers to lose their jobs over this. We are humans just like you who have to make a living for our family. Plus we have stood up for this many of times and nothing got done. So I will refer to PARENTS ARE THE ONES WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. So get up and do something about it.

May 1, 2016 at 2:50 pm

My son is one of those that exceeds expectations. He is quickly bored and uninvolved when the same thing is done over and over and over just to get everyone to test standards. His grades suffer for it as well as what he could be learning and his enjoyment in learning it. That all started this year. I found out at Christmas (not from his teacher) that his reading level was atrocious. He can take a book I read and dissect it; noun, verb, adverb, prepositional phrase but he could not read the majority of it. That is an absolute disgrace and miscarriage of what our education system is supposed to do. He has been absolutely bent up, this whole semester, over these redundant assessments and benchmarks. I finally sat him down and explained that he is an OPT OUT kid and what that meant. He has been a completely different kid and student. To the point of his teacher’s making good comments about his attentiveness and vigor in the classroom, now.

March 23, 2015 at 8:15 am

The state of Texas requires five STAAR exams (Algebra 1, English 1 & 2, Biology and US History) in order for a student to graduate. By opting out of these tests in high school aren’t you preventing your student from receiving their high school diploma?

March 23, 2015 at 10:58 pm

SB 149 is currently revisiting this requirement. However, review our article entitled “What About High School” for more information on options for parents of high school students.

March 28, 2016 at 10:36 pm

So do they need to pass the staar test to graduate? My son is a senior and hasn’t been able to pass one of the staar test. They said he has one more chance to pass it or else he won’t graduate.

March 28, 2016 at 10:44 pm

If your son has passed three of the EOCs he can graduate by Individual Graduation Committee. You need to tell the school you want his Individual Graduation Committee to meet.

March 30, 2016 at 9:44 pm

I think this may be helpful for those parents of high school students!

https://www.region10.org/r10website/assets/File/GISD%20IGC%20Manual.docx

March 31, 2016 at 10:31 am

Thanks for the resource! I am posting it, although I have not vetted it. Sometimes schools add things that aren’t in the rules.

February 1, 2022 at 5:41 pm

to piggy back off this, I was a straight A student that was horrible at testing. I failed the Math test several times before giving up. I was not able to Graduate because of this. I have met all the requirements to graduate EXCEPT passing the Math test. Till this day they will not release my diploma until the test is passed. I just would like to know is this something that could possible help get my diploma by Opting myself out?

February 1, 2022 at 7:03 pm

No, but there are numerous ways that people from the old assessment regimes can get their diplomas. If you have done any of the following things you can graduate by district decision:

(c) The alternative requirements for graduation shall permit an individual to qualify to graduate and receive a high school diploma if the individual: (1) has met the performance standard on an alternate assessment as specified in §101.4003 of this title (relating to Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Exit-Level Alternate Assessments); (2) has performed satisfactorily on the applicable subject-area test of a state-approved high school equivalency examination in accordance with §89.43(a)(4) of this title (relating to Eligibility for a Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency); (3) provides evidence of attainment of a Texas Education Agency-approved industry-recognized postsecondary license or certification; (4) provides evidence of current active duty service in the armed forces or a DD Form 214 indicating honorable or general discharge from the armed forces; or (5) has successfully completed college-level coursework and earned college credit.

A lot of people have taken a one hour PE or Intro to College course at the local community college to meet section 5.

January 29, 2016 at 2:23 pm

I was told that since my son has failed one of the English tests (last years), that he had to at least ATTEMPT the test each and EVERY time it was given or he couldn’t qualify for the meeting to decide whether to grant him a diploma or not even thought he is an A/B student and has a good GPA. Our school has no give and will NOT agree to opting out without giving parents all kinds of grief! It’s all about the money they can get.

January 29, 2016 at 2:37 pm

That is a misinterpretation of the law. SB 149 requires that they attempt it at least once. If they intend to substitute TSI scores, they must have attempted it twice. The school is required to continue to offer it. That is all. Also, there is no requirement that the school wait until the last possible administration to convene an IGC.

April 20, 2023 at 2:05 pm

I am an advocate for students and you can opt out, but they will not graduate with a “diploma”. They will graduate with a certificate unless your child is in special education. If that is the case then there are various other options.

April 20, 2023 at 2:41 pm

You really should better inform yourself. IGC students graduate with a diploma. Substitute assessment students graduate with a diploma. CVEP students graduate with a diploma just from a different institution.

April 17, 2015 at 1:07 pm

Do we need to send all the letters and deal with the school, or can we simply let them stay home those days?? Then they just never take it. Just curious. (My son is in 7th)

April 19, 2015 at 6:16 pm

You can certainly just stay home. The letters are an effort to do two things: (1) comply with the existing statute and (2) make clear the reasons for our civil disobedience. Since the schools deny the statute lets you opt out anyway, you can certainly save yourself the hassle of dealing with them. You will lose the opportunity to fight over what the statute actually means if you do that. Either way, make sure you let someone know (like your state reps) why you did it! It will take momentum to make changes here in Texas.

April 21, 2015 at 1:25 am

I suspect there are lots of parents who have been demonstrating their civil disobedience for years by simply keeping their kids home from school on those days. It would be interesting to see the number of absences (excused and unexcused) for those days. The reality is that opting out is a war that will take YEARS of fighting before a satisfactory conclusion is reached. By the time the statue changes, their kids will be long out of school. My oldest son graduated HS 5 years ago(from public school) and the “state testing wars” that started before he even entered elementary school is still going on. I am giving serious consideration to homeschooling my youngest through the remainder of his middle school years (just as i did with my oldest for middle school) and possibly through high school. I hate to say it, but it would take something DRASTIC (such as a huge failure rate across most grade levels, say 70% or more statewide) before statute changes due to a huge outcry and enormous pressure on politicians. That is when parents would finally be allowed to opt out without coercion to their families. Most people forget that politicians, leaders, decision makers at the upper echelons of our public educational system most often have kids that don’t even attend public school (if they have kids at all). They don’t want their kids caught in the public school political and funding MESS. They certainly don’t want to deal with TRUANCY threats at the first sign of a cough.(yes they attempt to level charges even against children with legitimate illnesses). These are your decision makers folks. As for a co homeschooling & public schooling situation, working to satisfy truancy charges–highly doubtful. The reality is that judges can interpret the education code as they see fit and there is nothing in that education code that makes accommodation for a dual enrollment situation. Homeschoolers have been fighting for YEARS for the right to be allowed to co-enroll for the purposes of playing sports and taking a select number of classes in public school. Its a battle that has been waged for years. Yet to this day homeschoolers are not allowed to attend a handful of classes in public school or play sports along with other PS students during school hours. Sadly, i’ve even heard of parents so battle worn that they’ve resigned themselves to simply take the Class C misdemeanor charges along with the $275.00 fine for truancy and then worry about expunging the charges once their child graduates high school. Oh and yes they are bringing charges against PRE- SCHOOLERS now, along with kindergartners, first graders, second graders etc. Frisco ISD and ALLEN ISD were featured in a Dallas Morning News article entitled “Petite Perps” last year. No one has studied the psychological impact of bringing a child as young as a preschooler and kindergartner before a judge as if they are a common criminal. I suspect the potential damage is a lifetime of anxiety issues and panic attacks not to mention depression and an overall hatred of school/learning. My advice- 1. HOMESCHOOL your child if at all possible (not just during the staar) 2. Enroll them in private school FROM HOME if you cannot afford regular private school attendance. 3. If you can afford it, send them to private school if possible. 4. Some private schools allow for dual enrollment with homeschool (this cuts down your cost) 5. Graduate your child in 3 years instead of 4 years of high school. My son,nephew and niece were virtually all done with their HS graduation requirements by 11th grade (except for one class) yet they were all FORCED to take a full load of classes because the district required at least 6 classes in senior year for the purposes of funding(warm bodies in those chairs). RIDICULOUS. 6. GED (General Equivalency Diploma) its still an option and from what ive heard more challenging than the regular high school academics/diploma.

April 21, 2015 at 10:38 am

With respect to co-enrollment, we really won’t know until a case is (a) filed and (b) litigated with competent counsel. There are school districts that allow co-enrollment, but they don’t advertise. The entire premise of “there is nothing in the Code that allows it” is backwards. The Texas Constitution gives all students the right to a free public education. There is no prohibition on that which says you must forego private education if you enroll in public schools. That is the proper analysis, not the reverse.

That said, if you enroll in public school, you will have to comply with the 90% rule and if your absences cause you to miss tests or other required classwork, you may be penalized. As far as truancy, I would love to hear any actual report of a child under age 12 being charged (not the parent) because that is completely contrary to statute.

August 4, 2022 at 11:38 pm

My daughters school just slammed the parents tonight at meet the teacher night and threatened to hit the kids and parents with truancy if opted out .

August 5, 2022 at 4:41 pm

If opted out of what? What district?

April 22, 2015 at 11:36 am

I wished I had known about these steps. I feel like I have failed my kids. I feel as if I don’t let them test, that all the Hard work and extra work that they have been given is all a waste of time and effort on their behalf. At our School in Somerset Tx, the school has Stopped teaching Science and History, due to only working on Reading, writing, and math skills. This truly concerns me. On one hand I want to see how well my kids have done but on the other hand I don’t care if they passed the dang test or not. Just feeling so lost.

August 13, 2015 at 3:54 pm

I have a 8th grader who went to private school until last year her private school only went to 6th grade so the whole thing was a huge change from about 12 in class to 30 she was in Pre AP class’s to start we pulled her out of the math it was just to fast and not learning the rest of the class’s where pre ap and she/we worked hard for these class’s with tutoring in school and outside her daily work is great but when comes the CA’s they do here in Arlington TX. and exams she does not do well her math was after the first semester 80’s-90’s but test were low and her other class’s which were the pre AP class’s were 75-89 but when it came to the starr test she did not pass and now they want to make her take a starr class which to be able to keep the gym and band they have put her in zero hour which starts at 7:30-8:30 and then the rest of the till 4 they said that she has to take this starr class my question is does she and can we opt out of the starr test this year and she still be prompted to the 9th grade next year.

We are even looking at private school again it is just I want her to know how it is going to be come college and small private schools.

Can they make her take this Starr Class

Thanks for your time

Data Frausto

August 13, 2015 at 3:56 pm

We are wanting to Opt Out of this Testing for this next year but want to make sure she get to go on the 9th grade

October 17, 2015 at 12:57 pm

When do you send the 1st letter?

October 19, 2015 at 1:45 pm

do you have any advice for parents with kids that are on IEP’s or have developmental challenges? my son is in the 5th grade and will receive accommodations when taking the STAAR. however, he failed his 4th grade star and I’m concerned that his dyslexia will prevent him from passing this year and will be remanded. should we just opt out? he’s been on an IEP since kindergarten and has been promoted every year. while he isn’t at grade level on some subjects, he passes all his subjects.

January 28, 2016 at 4:44 pm

My recommendation is, if you decide to permit your child to be assessed, to make a written request that all of his classroom and testing accommodations be given to him at the time STAAR is administered. They will respond that they are only allowed to give certain accommodations. You should then respond in writing, informing them that under federal law your child is entitled to whatever accomodations they are denying. It won’t change their approach, but it will protect your rights if you have to take further action.

March 24, 2016 at 3:14 am

I am in the EXACT same situation. Have you decided what to do? It has actually brought my son to tears because he’s so stressed and afraid of the staar test.

March 29, 2016 at 6:29 pm

Yes if they take the test tell the ard committee u want to accept scores as is and they will cite a law. Tell them your student has participated. That is what they claim is the law/requirement to participate. Then if they fight u tell them that if their supports were working your son would have passed. If they are still insistent after that demand crazy supports for your child. I did that and now they simple have kids in special Ed sign their name to the test and accept as participation. Being special Ed it is up to the ard committee on pass/fail not up to test scores and you are part of that committee. Refuse to check accept if they don’t do what u want

May 5, 2019 at 2:24 pm

My son is in special ed I don’t want him to take that test…can you plz explain to me alil bit more on how I can try to do what you did?…I read what you posted understood some of it but still alil confuse any help you can give me I thank you for

November 30, 2015 at 9:48 pm

Our children attend Glen Rose ISD. The superintendent has been extremely helpful to the best of his ability according to the TEA that binds our district. Our students are allowed to attend on testing and retesting days after an specific amount of time. For example, last school year the high school students were required to have 5 hours to take the STAAR. With our high school releasing at 3:35pm, students are allowed to show up to school after 10:36 am without any repercussions. The score is marked as “A” for absent. Lower grade levels have time requirements as well, allowing students to attend the remainder of the day after a certain time. This is just a reminder that it is possible for students to still attend on assessment days.

January 8, 2016 at 2:29 pm

Are the letters posted on this website good to use for 2016?

January 26, 2016 at 12:15 pm

January 13, 2016 at 6:20 pm

I’ve read this answer before so I apologize for being redundant…not having any luck finding the answer now that I need it! My question is this…If my 6th grader opts out in 6th grade, can he be forced to take remedial classes in 7th? (His teacher, in as many words, threatened that he won’t get to play football because he will have to take remedial math.) He has average/above average grades in his 6th grade math classes. I wish to opt out on principle as well as in support of my son who has huge anxiety thinking about taking this test. (We’ve opted out in the past but now football is “on the line.”)Thanks.

January 30, 2016 at 4:06 pm

There is no legal requirement that the student be placed in remedial classes. If the school is threatening this, you will have to fight them on it.

January 29, 2016 at 9:44 pm

I wanted to know what about kids that take staar alt. There is a window of testing that I would have to keep her out of. The school has already denied my letter. Do I have to keep her out the whole window?

January 30, 2016 at 4:04 pm

Tragically, the TEA greatly expanded the STAAR-Alt window to a point where a parent really has only one good alternative if their school is not cooperative. That alternative is to withdraw the student from school for the entire assessment window and re-enroll after the window closes. If you decide to go forward with assessment, you should request in writing that all classroom accommodations be provided on STAAR, because TEA rules do not currently allow this. You should put them on notice that you consider that to be a violation of your child’s rights under federal law and that if any adverse action is taken as a result of unaccommodated assessment, you will seek to enforce those rights.

March 23, 2016 at 10:57 am

My daughter is in 8th grade and has never under stood math! Last year I unenrolled her for 2 weeks and the day she went back they sent me to court’ my ? Is she is beyond stressed to where she has chest pains and is sent home from school’ she’s depressed because she knows she can’t do it’ ‘ this year I will more than likely do the same with her’ she don’t need that stress in her life she’s to young and had a heart mummor! I guess my ? Is who is the decision up to if she don’t take the test? Is it the principal because she and the assistant principal are beyond against her going in and making all the other kids not want to take the test! Which is y I kept her home

February 7, 2016 at 9:14 pm

The alt test is very low stress compared to the others. They are very casual and I see no harm in them. They are just like taking probes on IEP goals. At the students pace with frequent breaks.

February 8, 2016 at 12:41 pm

Many SpEd parents disagree. And whether the administration is casual or not, they students are still assessed and the results used to rate schools and teachers. The STAAR-Alt remains inappropriate for many of the students who take it, and the passage rate is abhorrent. But obviously, compliance is a decision for each family to make on its own.

March 16, 2022 at 2:02 am

My son has dyslexia and was tested in school and given accommodations set up with an IEP and yearly ARD meetings. This year we moved into a new school district, I lost my husband just weeks before the school year and had plans to homeschool my son but couldn’t after the passing of my husband. He was enrolled into 5th grade at the new school almost 2 weeks into 2021/2022 school year and has missed some days due to us trying to cope with the loss of my husband, his dad. His grades in reading and math have been below 70s for most of the year and I’m just realizing how much I’ve neglected his education. I recently had and ARD meeting questioning his spelling test grades (grades of 20s 15s). I requested that they modify and accommodate with a shorter list prior and never heard anything back. When it was brought up to the teacher she said she would make changes but she still wants him to attempt all words and will only be grading the first ten.(which I think is BS) I also made them aware of papers I receive in his folder half completed sometimes nothing on them done and sometimes teachers requesting signatures from me with no explanation. I then proceeded to tell them how my son feels when coming back from seeing the specialist and how lost he feels when joining the class and not receiving any help to get on track with lessons. During that meeting I requested if I could shadow my son for a day to see how his day is structured and how he is transitioned from class to specialist and back to class. I was quickly told to email the principal bc he would be able to reply quickly. Emailed the next day but the following day he tells me in the parent drop off that he received my email and hasn’t forgotten and will reply soon. Day goes by and I see him and he immediately leaves into the gym. See him on an early release day and quickly heads into a hall and out of sight. March 7 was when I emailed this principal and I have yet to get a reply. Reading on my rights to opt my son out of Staar testing, How could his absences and grades affect him from moving into 6th grade? Can I use his progress from his previous school as proof that he is able to make the grade and show progress and should be promoted? Please let me know and if you have any other recommendations please feel free to send them ALL. I know children have testing coming up on may 10-12 I believe and I would love to save him the worry of having to take that BS test.

April 12, 2022 at 1:46 am

This doesn’t answer all of your questions, but be aware that some special ed depts use avoiddance as method to effectively deny things that parents request. At least in TX, u have a right to be in your child’s classroom, without any advance warning or explanation. Since they can’t officially say “no” they are avoiding you. Don’t let that keep you out of the classroom. Keep stating your requests / concerns, for 504/ SPED, in writing, and pointing out that they have not answered you. I have observed one Houston school that had this non-answering strategy for Special Ed raised to an art level. It was maddening.

February 6, 2016 at 1:26 pm

I am not a fan of testing. However, when you choose to send your children to public school, unfortunately state testing is a part of it. What are you teaching your children? If you don’t like something, you can simply refuse to do it? So, if they don’t like a book that they are required to read, they simply can opt out? If they don’t like a writing assignment, they can opt out? They don’t want to take a test, it’s ok, you can simply stay at home? Or, better yet, like one parent I know, we can just go to Disney World. This is what is wrong with so much of our workforce today. Too many employees have the attitude that they only have to do what they like to do and work should be as they please. Testing has gotten out of control. However, if you don’t like it, homeschool or go to private school! Don’t put the teachers and schools in a position, the majority are simply trying to educate your children and do the best they can to assure that your children are educated.

February 8, 2016 at 12:39 pm

I’m not teaching them to be an unquestioning sheep, that’s for sure. There are plenty of you out there already. Why are you even on this page if you are sold out to the testing agenda? Let’s just deal with your “objections” one by one.

I am not a fan of testing. However, when you choose to send your children to public school, unfortunately state testing is a part of it.

I missed the part of civics that said we need to unquestioningly follow and do exactly what the government tells us to do. I’ll go back and re-read my constitution.

What are you teaching your children? If you don’t like something, you can simply refuse to do it? So, if they don’t like a book that they are required to read, they simply can opt out? If they don’t like a writing assignment, they can opt out? They don’t want to take a test, it’s ok, you can simply stay at home?

You are teaching your child that there are some things that are more important than compliance. A book, a writing assignment, a classroom test — those things are not, individually, turning the entire K-12 educational system into automatonic, bubble-filling, test preparation courses. Reading books is replaced with “close reading”. Writing assignments are replaced with 26 line “essays” that must stay within the box. In fact, your citation to those kind of assignments that are rapidly disappearing from our classrooms shows how uninformed you are about how the test-prep, drill and kill, assessment based curriculum has warped our public schools. So, yes, there are some things important enough to draw a line in a sand. It’s not about any one assessment, or any one assignment. It’s about the impact that corporate testing has on the public schools.

Or, better yet, like one parent I know, we can just go to Disney World. This is what is wrong with so much of our workforce today. Too many employees have the attitude that they only have to do what they like to do and work should be as they please.

My kid isn’t your employee, and if we think school is about training people to be little employees, we have the wrong idea. The economy doesn’t turn on workers bees. We need worker bees, but we also need leaders, innovators, artists, paradigm shifters and people who know how to think outside the box, or outside the bubble. We are losing that end of education, and that’s way more important than whether the state collects data on my child this spring.

Testing has gotten out of control. However, if you don’t like it, homeschool or go to private school! Don’t put the teachers and schools in a position, the majority are simply trying to educate your children and do the best they can to assure that your children are educated.

You can choose to quit and give up on public education if you like. I choose to fight and to return to teachers and local schools the power to truly educate, not test train our kids.

March 28, 2016 at 9:25 pm

Very well stated

February 8, 2016 at 1:01 pm

E. Heinz –

My child is an English Language Learner, adopted internationally with only two years of English. He is expected to take the same assessment native-speakers take. The “accommodations” built into the assessments for ELL students are shown by the TEA’s own research to not work. Any assessment of my child is not about content knowledge, because the language gap prevents accurate assessment by standardized test. Why should I subject my child to a system that has pre-determined the outcome by its means of assessment? The assessment violates his rights under federal law, especially when the outcomes are used to impose punitive educational outcomes. You can send your kids if you want, but my decision not to has nothing to do with just deciding we don’t feel like being assessed.

February 16, 2016 at 9:38 am

Being a parent of 5 beautiful children who are all individually intelligent I have to disagree with opting out of standardized tests sends the message you are indicating. Two of my children have special needs. One makes A’s and B’s on report cards; however, bombs assessment tests. From outer appearance it is hard to see that she has ADHD and suffers HIGH Anxiety. These tests send her over the edge. They beat her self esteem down and she feels like a failure although she has worked her buns off all year. The schools have been great with accommodations…such as small group testing etc…..but the results are the same.

My youngest child is ADHD and DYSLEXIC. He is highly intelligent. High IQ. But he learns and tests different then other children. Without going into the reasons why not all children fit into the mold of these tests I simply just want to say these tests are not a true indicator of what accomplishments a child will make in their lifetime or what type of employee they will be in the workforce; nor are they an indicator of how good or bad a teacher was.

And finally I have yet to meet a teacher in the last 5 years that are for the STAAR or any common assessment test.

March 22, 2016 at 9:25 am

There is a huge difference between illegal testing and a strong work ethic. Illegal testing for funding is a complete violation of a student’s rights, a strong work ethic is something you morally instill in your child

March 7, 2020 at 1:31 pm

I graduated before any of this testing nonsense started, but there were some assignments I chose to opt out of. I was in high school and discussed them with my parents first. I then spoke to the teachers. One teacher was very understanding and provided an alternative. The other teacher was not so my parents talked with the principal. The principal suggested an alternate assignment.

In the business world, I have also had to refuse assignments when my boss gave me too many to complete on time. I was working 12-16 hours a day and knew one more job would mean I would miss deadlines. He wasn’t happy, but I was firm.

Sometimes you just have to stand your ground.

February 8, 2016 at 6:39 am

Thank you for gathering all of this information. Could you tell me more about unenrolling before STAAR and then re-enrolling after it’s over? I have a 4th grader now but I wonder if this would work for 5th when they must pass to advance. Would you keep this a secret or tell the school that you are doing it? What is the worst case fallout of unenrolling to avoid the test?

February 15, 2016 at 9:22 pm

I’m still confused about the scoring part – if we opt out, does my child get a zero score?

February 16, 2016 at 5:15 pm

Is Homework Illegal? (Arguments In Support and Against)

Homework is not illegal in the United States.

But from a legal standpoint, it is a really fun argument to make!

In this article, we’ll cover some points that you could use for or against the question of the legality of homework, whether you are the student, parent, or teacher in this debate.

Is Homework Illegal? (FOR and AGAINST)

The contents of this web page are for informational purposes only, and nothing you read is intended to be legal advice. Please review our  disclaimer about law/legal-related information on this website  before taking action based upon anything you read or see.

Legal vs Illegal vs Unconstitutional

To make the argument that something (like homework) is illegal, there needs to be a law or statute or case precedent or SOMETHING that is the basis for the alleged illegality.

People have argued that homework is illegal because it counts as a form of “slavery.”

And since “slavery” was abolished by an amendment to the constitution, it is therefore “illegal.”

This argument fails.

It is illegal to restrict/control with force the movement/life of other individuals if you do not have authority to do so (as parents do with their minor children).

It is illegal to commit the other acts slavery is well known for (assault, harassment, and more).

And the individual statutes (state and federal) addressing those specific acts are the basis for the conclusion that something is “illegal” and “legal.”

Not everything that would be unconstitutional (or goes against the stated words in the constitution) would be considered illegal, and vice versa.

Instead, if you were going to make the argument that homework was illegal, you’d be better off consulting the various statutes that make certain conduct illegal.

For example:

Let’s accept that homework is an act, and that the victims do not want to commit or engage in this act, and the victims (students) only do the act because of the threat of some other result (punishments, consequences, etc).

Perhaps then you could argue that forcing kids to do homework is an illegal act, assuming that the threats of consequences are coming from an individual or entity that does not have legal authority to provide the threatened punishments, or those punishments are themselves illegal.

Sounds a lot like the crime of coercion , doesn’t it?

If you want to argue that homework is illegal, look for a statute like coercion to support your argument.

And if you want to use the 13th amendment in support of your case against homework, argue that homework is “unconstitutional” rather than “illegal.”

But if you want to argue more about the constitution, you could argue that homework infringes the rights contained in the 14th amendment to the constitution which present the state from depriving any person life, liberty , or property.

Children under the age of 18 surely qualify as “any person.” And they have a right to “liberty” which homework surely infringes.

Consent As The School’s Defense

One of the arguments that homework is illegal or constitutes slavery is that the children do not want to do the homework.

They are being made to do it.

They did not agree to do the homework.

But here’s the thing.

People under the age of 18 in the United States cannot make most decisions for themselves.

While the children may be in school against their will, and the homework is against their will, their parents or legal guardians have consented.

The parents have agreed on the children’s behalf to the homework.

Thus, technically, because the parents have voluntarily sent their children to the school, the parents have voluntarily consented to the homework, and the consequences of not doing the homework.

The child might not consent to the homework, but in the end, the parents have given their agreement.

The parents take the children to the school.

No one is pointing weapons at them to make them.

The parents sign their names to forms.

No weapons there either.

And since a crime like coercion requires that the act (the homework) be an act against the will or interest of the victim, a case cannot succeed because the will of the parents is substituted for the will of the child.

Arguing That Parents Did Not Consent

We just talked about how a debater could argue that homework is not illegal or against the will of the child because the parent’s will is substituted for the child’s will.

But what is the consent of the parent was not voluntary?

What if the parent was coerced to send their child to school, or to the homework?

What is sending their kids to school (and to do homework) was involuntary?

In most states, there are laws covering the attendance of children at school.

Absent an exclusion or a valid reason to opt out (like homeschool), a parent could face criminal prosecution if he/she does not send a child to school.

Think of what it means to make a voluntary decision.

It involves a lot of free will, and no pressure or undue influence.

If the school were to argue that the parents consented for the children to school (and then the homework), the argument against the consent is that the parents cannot voluntarily consent to the homework.

Parents are under the threat of fines and jail time.

Their consent is being obtained essentially by force.

A weapon of a different kind.

After all, a parent who goes to jail might lose his job, his driver’s license, or maybe even custody of his children.

A parent who goes to jail might lose his right to vote, or his position/status in society.

A person cannot consent at the business end of a weapon.

State Laws Do Not Compel Homework, Just Attendance

Another fun wrinkle in this argument, especially as we get down into whether parents have consented or can consent to homework, is whether the applicable laws have any impact on homework.

A student is not lawfully required to do homework.

If you look at the laws about education, there are laws about parents sending their kids to school.

There are laws about kids actually going to school.

But are there any laws that require children to complete the homework.

Like really?

I mean, doing homework is important to getting a good grade.

But aside from showing up at school (and not hurting or disrupting others), can schools actually make children do homework?

Schools can implement consequences for failing to turn in homework.

But they can’t physically punish a child (like hitting him, in most cases), or prevent him from eating or drinking while at school.

And once the child is at home with his homework, he is subject to the will of his parents or legal guardians.

Browse our  free legal library guides  for more information.

You might also like:

• Can An 18 year Old and 17 Year Old Date?
• Is It Illegal To TP a House?
• Is Egging a House a Crime?
• Is It Illegal To Throw Eggs At a Car?
• Is It Illegal To Change Lanes In An Intersection In Michigan?
• Can You Be a Lawyer Without Going To Court?
• Going 40 Over The Speed Limit (Jail?)
• Arraignment vs Indictment (The Difference)
• How Long After Arraignment Is Sentencing?

The Ins and Outs of Homeschooling in Texas: A Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to the Lonestar State! Texas has long been associated with freedom; but what does that mean for Texas homeschoolers? What laws and regulations are you subject to if you’re homeschooling in Texas?

In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about beginning your homeschool journey in Texas, and what to expect along the way.

Is Homeschool in Texas Regulated? 

Hslda laws for texas.

When it comes to understanding your rights as a homeschooler, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is pretty much your one stop shop, offering a comprehensive guide of the homeschooling laws in all 50 states. 

Under Texas law, you are required to provide structured learning for your child from ages 6 to 18. However, many are surprised to learn that Texas does not require you to have a teaching certification or any special qualifications to teach your child. 

There’s also no hourly requirement or number of days required for teaching each year.

In fact, when compared to other states, Texas homeschoolers have it easy since homeschool is considered a private school by the state. 

While this means that you have more freedom to blaze your own homeschooling path, there are a few Texas laws you will need to be aware of. 

There are three main requirements you need to follow.

First, you must be teaching from a “bonafide” curriculum (or mix of curriculums). You can totally design your own curriculum, but there should be some sort of plan so that you aren’t just coming up with things on the fly. Basically, your homeschool can’t be a sham. 

Second, Texas requires that homeschoolers receive instruction in four core subjects: 

• Spelling and Grammar
• Good Citizenship

I know what you’re thinking: Really? That’s it? It’s true. These are the only four subjects required by Texas state law. 

That said, it’s still a good idea to weave in some history and science where you can, so that your child isn’t totally lost in these areas when it comes up down the road or even in college. Not to mention, how will you know if you have a little budding Einstein on your hands if you don’t introduce your child to the wonders of science?

Finally, Texas requires that homeschoolers utilize teaching materials that can be seen in a written format. This basically just means that your materials need to be tangible, which includes workbooks, online curriculum, children’s books, textbooks, and other things of that nature. 

Get To Know The HSLDA

This is a great resource to take advantage of, especially for homeschool newbies. Their website offers TONS of free resources that answer any question you might have about your homeschooling journey.

In fact, the HSLDA is one of the most well-known non-profit homeschool advocacy organizations in the nation. While many of the online resources are available free of charge, they also offer a membership program for more personalized, one-on-one guidance. For $12 per month (or $130 annually), you’ll have access to legal services and representation as well as a number of exclusive member resources. 

Since Texas is one of the most lenient homeschool states, many parents forgo the membership option. However, it may come in handy should you encounter any bumps in the road, such as pushback from your local public school. 

Is Standardized Testing Required for Homeschoolers in Texas?

Ah, the dreaded standardized testing. Yuck. I still remember getting knots in my stomach on testing days growing up. I’m not saying testing is without merit, but I was pretty stoked to find out that Texas does not require homeschoolers to do any type of benchmark or standardized testing. Whew! 

That said, many co-ops and homeschool communities offer yearly testing options for a small fee. This can be a great way to measure your child’s progress and see how well they’re absorbing the material (and how well your hard work as a teacher is paying off!).

Not to mention, exposure to this type of timed, often high-stress testing is good if you intend to send your child to college, so they aren’t totally freaking out when it comes time for the SAT or ACT.

How Much Does it Cost to Homeschool in Texas?

Now for the big question on every homeschool parent’s mind… how much does it cost to homeschool in Texas? The answer: it depends, but I bet it’s lower than you’d think.

Although the costs of homeschooling will vary depending on your unique situation, many homeschool families find their journey is actually cheaper than the costs associated with public school.

Possibly the only drawback of homeschooling in Texas is there are no tax credits available for homeschoolers, unlike several other states. This means you can’t write off your homeschool expenses, and there is no tax incentive or stimulus to help offset any expenses you may encounter.

But don’t let that scare you off. Homeschool can be quite affordable and there are many ways to customize your journey depending on your budget. You can even find several curricula and teaching resources for free! 

How to Start Homeschooling in Texas

If your child has never been enrolled in public school.

If you are starting your homeschool journey off the bat and your child has never been enrolled in the public school system, you are pretty much good to go! 

In this case, there is no paperwork to send in or notifications to mail off to your local school district. You can start looking at different curriculum options, building your schedule , and getting started. 

If Your Child Is Enrolled in Public School

If your child is currently enrolled in the public school system, there are a few extra steps you’ll need to take before getting started. First, you will need to draft a letter of intent to withdraw your child from their current school. You can find different sample letters and email templates online.

If you are withdrawing your child in the middle of the school year, make sure to let the school know and send your formal notice immediately. Otherwise, if you are starting fresh with a new school year, just make sure to send your letter before your district’s first day of school so your child is not considered enrolled for that year.

Join the Texas Homeschool Coalition

For those interested in homeschooling in Texas, I’d suggest checking out the Texas Homeschool Coalition . Like the HSLDA, the THSC is a legal advocacy organization that provides homeschooling parents with resources , legal protection, and one-on-one coaching throughout any bumps you may experience in your homeschool journey. 

Like the HSLDA, the THSC can help you understand your rights as a homeschooling parent so that you feel safe and empowered to make the right decisions for your child’s education. 

Under their membership option, they also offer events such as homeschool conventions, field trips, graduation ceremonies, and fundraisers. The annual membership costs $120.

Final Thoughts on Homeschooling in Texas

The great news is that homeschooling in Texas is much easier than other states that have more laws and regulations. This relative freedom is one of the many reasons that Texas is the perfect place to begin your homeschooling journey .

And whether you’re brand new to the homeschooling life or you’re a seasoned homeschool veteran, Texas has plenty of communities, groups, and resources that have your back and can help you out along the way!

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Is Homework Illegal AnyWhere?

• Post author By admin
• September 19, 2022

In this blog, you will learn about is homework illegal? so let’s get started.

Homework has become an important part since Horace Mann invented school. But many students have a query “is homework illegal?” – many students don’t want to do homework, and according to the research, this happens worldwide. 

Homework is time-consuming and stressful for students. That’s why students hate to do homework and want to know is it legal or illegal. We know that you are one of them that want to know is homework illegal or legal. For some reasons, you can say it is illegal or for some, it is legal. 

We will start with the illegal site. Many American elementary schools have banned homework because they find that homework can affect students’ health by causing stomach and headaches problems.

Many students suffer from sleep deprivation because they stay up late at night to complete their homework. It can be harmful to children’s learning skills because sleep has been shown to assist memory consolidation.

Table of Contents

Is Homework Illegal?

While the answer to the question “is homework illegal?” is “no, not yet,” our attitudes toward homework are changing, and the pandemic has caused us to reconsider children’s work-life balance. Some school districts and individual schools have begun to prohibit homework and limit the amount of homework that can be assigned to students. Some schools have said that homework is given out only 2-3 times per week, and others have outright banned homework for students under the age of 15. 

Why Homework Is Not Illegal

There are numerous disagreements over the effectiveness of homework. However, after years of debate and research, there is no solid proof that it helps students in achieving higher marks. While some kids dislike homework and perform better in school without it, others rely on it to gain a deeper understanding of certain subjects.

For example, many students gain a better understanding of mathematical ideas through repeated practice. As a result, making homework unlawful may disadvantage more students, skewing the outcomes in favour of children who are born with these skills.

The government recognises this and has not passed any legislation prohibiting schools from assigning homework. Law enforcement will not arrest a teacher for assigning homework to students. This blog is all about is homework illegal.

A short history of homework for you

There is no definitive answer to the question of when homework was invented and who invented homework .  Pliny the Younger from the Roman Empire, Roberto Nevilis from Italy in 1905, or Horace Mann can all be credited.  In one form or another, homework has almost certainly been around for a long time.  

One of the last two men is supposed to have introduced today’s concept of homework (after all, a woman would have known that there is PLENTY to do at home!). It was created as a punishment or as a way to show students that they can control their time.

As soon as homework was introduced, it was controversial.  In some states, homework bans were already in place at the turn of the 20th century.  The amount of homework given to kids increased as fears of the cold war grew and Americans were concerned about falling behind.  Later, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the anti-homework sentiment grew again, and students were given less homework. The country was experiencing an economic downturn when I entered the “workforce,” which means school.  Who else could be blamed but teachers?  There is a suggestion that the amount of homework given to kids should be increased by the Department of Education.

It has been reported that some high school students report having up to three hours of homework per night since then. This blog is all about is homework illegal.

Importance Of Homework

Improve memory

Whatever students learn in the classroom they can revise while doing homework. It can help them to improve their memory.

Students can learn to make good use of time

When students spend a lot of time completing their homework it helps them to keep away from useless activities such as spending more hours on phones, television or video games. 

Students can become independent

Many students do their homework on their own. They don’t get help from their teacher or friends. It makes them self-reliant and increases their confidence. 

Students learn responsibility

Many students understand that finishing homework is their responsibility. That’s why they do their homework every day.  It makes them responsible as a person.

Students learn to use many resources

When students do their homework they learn to use many resources such as libraries, the internet, etc. it helps them to find more information to complete their homework on time. 

Allow parents to involve in the studies of their child

When students do their homework it allows their parents to know what their child learns in school. And they can get involved with the child in their studies. 

Improves academic performance

Learning in the classroom isn’t enough to get good grades in school. Self-study is very important for achieving high grades.

Increases concentration

When students do their homework they find a peaceful place to study where they can concentrate more to complete their homework.

Why Should Students Have Homework?

One of the most important reasons a student has homework is that it allows professors to see where students are struggling with the course and assistance. 

At the same time, some students can work from the comfort of their own homes. It also allows teachers to get to know their students because some students are fast learners while others are slow learners.

Teachers can see where their students are lacking. The advantages of homework include teaching kids how to work as part of a group or collaborate effectively with others.

It can help the student in learning how to be self-sufficient. The schoolwork of their children is visible to their parents.

Kids should be assigned homework because there isn’t enough time at school, and some projects must be completed. Homework can increase a student’s self-esteem, but they can immediately identify their issues and get help before it’s too late if they struggle with it. 

One of the reasons professors assign homework is to encourage students to stay on track because failing behind might lead to failure. This blog is all about is homework illegal.

Is It Legal For Me To Do My Homework?

Legally, you are not required to do your homework. There is no law enforcement body that will arrest you for not doing your homework. A student who fails to complete his/her homework has the right to have it dealt with by the school.

The school may ask you to leave if you repeatedly ignore homework in schools where homework is part of the learning approach.  In some cases, parents who let their children ignore homework may attempt to get an exemption at the School Board, but in most cases, such requests still result in the child being asked to leave school.

If you refuse to do your homework, you aren’t breaking any federal or state laws, but you have no control over the actions your school will take. They have the legal authority to make whatever decision they deem appropriate. This blog is all about is homework illegal.

What States Have Illegal Homework Laws?

In all US states, homework is legal because there are no state laws prohibiting it. However, schools in different states are allowed to set their own rules about homework.

Some states ban or limit homework in some schools (or districts) including:

• Connecticut

20 Reasons Why Homework Should Be Banned

Here are 20 reasons why homework should be banned : 

• Homework Restricts A Student’s Freedom
• No Time For Exercises 
• No Time To Play Outdoor Games 
• Often Breaks Students’ Confidence
• Homework Doing Not An Achievement
• Most Homework Creates Bad Habits
• Less Time To Spend With Family Members
• Conflict With Parents
• Homework Can Encourage Cheating
• Downtime At Home
• Negative Impact On Tests
• Writing Has Different Effects
• Extra Challenges
• Homework Causes Depression
• Homework Provides No Real Benefit
• Too Much Homework Means Not Enough Time For Yourself
• School Is a Full-Time Job
• No real impact on performance
• Irrelevant content

Can Homework Be Considered Slavery?

There is no legal definition that would support the claim that homework is slavery. Even though home assignments are assigned without permission, comparing them to slavery is a ridiculous argument that cannot stand up to legal scrutiny.

If homework is considered slavery, you will need to prove that the teacher or instructor receives economic benefit from your work. However, teachers do not receive any economic benefit from assigning homework. Our sole goal is to help students apply what they’ve learned and become more comfortable with what they know.

Regardless of whether you believe the homework you’re assigned contributes to your career in any way, you can make your case to the appropriate authorities. This blog is all about is homework illegal.

What Is The Legal Homework Rights?

You can limit the amount of time your child spends on homework under the legal homework rights. It is possible to use the 504 law for these purposes, as it has multiple accommodations for children with impairment.

The term “impairment” is loosely defined under this law, which makes it a good legal tool when you’re seeking to accommodate a student’s various needs.

Having a child who has a diagnosis like Dyslexia or ADHD gives you a stronger case. Parents also have the right to exercise these rights with no diagnosis. This blog is all about is homework illegal.

How the 504 Process Works

Meetings with key stakeholders and paperwork are part of the 504 processes. These stakeholders include:

• The student
• A school administrator

They will pay attention and document all of your concerns during the meeting. An administrator or the child’s teacher must adhere to the record or document. On some occasions, the case goes to court before it is enforced but typically ends in the meeting room.

What Is The Optimal Amount Of Time To Spend On Homework Each Day?

There is no universally optimal amount of time to spend on homework per day. Most educators suggest using the 10-minute rule. To determine how much time your child should spend on homework, you should multiply 10 minutes by his/her grade level. 

That calculation indicates that a second grader should only have 20 minutes of homework per day, while students in 12th grade can have up to two hours of homework per day.

By using the legal homework rights, parents can get some concessions using the 10-minute rule. If a child has no homework in their academic life, it’s easier to request that the homework time be reduced (which will increase with each passing year). This blog is all about is homework illegal.

The Argument Against Homework

The following are some of the arguments used against homework:

• This encroaches on family and relaxation time. Students require some time every day to relax, play, connect with family members, get adequate sleep, and more. These activities are essential for a healthy balance between academics and personal life. When you have a lot of homework every day, you spend most of your relaxation time studying.
• There is a lot of pressure on students. When students know they still have homework to do, they feel an unnecessary amount of mental pressure. In the long run, consistent pressure could negatively affect a student’s performance at school.
• A child’s self-confidence can be affected by this. Poor homework results and poor results can make a student withdraw from other students and dread meetings with their teachers.
• Homework isn’t graded quickly (if at all). Teachers are often very busy dealing with different aspects of the academic process, so they glance at homework only briefly. In some cases, the students receive feedback long after the class has changed topics. Poorly graded homework defeats its purpose.

The Argument for Homework

• It allows parents and children to work together. The relationship between a child and a parent can be further improved by solving homework together. The parent can see how the child copes with schoolwork and address any concerns with the authorities.
• Students learn how to solve problems through this activity. In addition to learning to solve problems independently, children who complete their homework regularly will also gain valuable life skills. Students will be able to find information through books, the internet, and other sources on their own.
• It gives students insight into a teacher’s thought process. By doing their homework, students gain a deeper understanding of how teachers think, which can help them prepare for tests and exams. 
• It can help a child develop a higher sense of self-worth . When students receive high grades on their homework and complete their assignments they might feel more confident, which may lead to them becoming better students. 

Conclusion (Is Homework Illegal)

In this blog, we have discussed about is homework illegal. i hope you have understood about is homework illegal easily.

Homework is not illegal or slave labor. However, you can’t ignore the positive outcomes and the overall impact on a child’s academic foundation, regardless of the valid concerns about the impact on students. Furthermore, homework is not compulsory for students.

It is, however, up to the school to decide how to handle the student.

The school administrators can review your concerns about the amount of work your child has to do or about the relevance of the homework. This blog is all about is homework illegal.

FAQs Related To Is Homework Illegal?

Is it illegal to give homework.

Students are not required to do homework by law. While he does not prohibit schools from setting and enforcing rules and standards, he does provide schools with the tools to help ensure students receive a quality education. In other words, the school has the power to make you do your homework or face school-internal consequences.

Is there a legal limit to homework?

Homework assignments are not regulated by federal law, either. … A first-grader, for example, should not have to do more than ten minutes of homework (10 x 1), and a high school sophomore, a tenth-grader, should not have to do more than a hundred minutes of homework (10 x 10).

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Is Homework Good for Kids? Here’s What the Research Says

Teachers, parents and researchers consider homework’s benefits and limitations

The no-homework policy of a second-grade teacher in Texas went viral last week , earning praise from parents across the country who lament the heavy workload often assigned to young students. Brandy Young told parents she would not formally assign any homework this year, asking students instead to eat dinner with their families, play outside and go to bed early.

But the question of how much work children should be doing outside of school remains controversial, and plenty of parents take issue with no-homework policies, worried their kids are losing a potential academic advantage. Here’s what you need to know:

For decades, the homework standard has been a “10-minute rule,” which recommends a daily maximum of 10 minutes of homework per grade level. Second graders, for example, should do about 20 minutes of homework each night. High school seniors should complete about two hours of homework each night. The National PTA and the National Education Association both support that guideline.

But some schools have begun to give their youngest students a break. A Massachusetts elementary school has announced a no-homework pilot program for the coming school year, lengthening the school day by two hours to provide more in-class instruction. “We really want kids to go home at 4 o’clock, tired. We want their brain to be tired,” Kelly Elementary School Principal Jackie Glasheen said in an interview with a local TV station . “We want them to enjoy their families. We want them to go to soccer practice or football practice, and we want them to go to bed. And that’s it.”

A New York City public elementary school implemented a similar policy last year, eliminating traditional homework assignments in favor of family time. The change was quickly met with outrage from some parents, though it earned support from other education leaders.

New solutions and approaches to homework differ by community, and these local debates are complicated by the fact that even education experts disagree about what’s best for kids.

The research

The most comprehensive research on homework to date comes from a 2006 meta-analysis by Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper, who found evidence of a positive correlation between homework and student achievement, meaning students who did homework performed better in school. The correlation was stronger for older students—in seventh through 12th grade—than for those in younger grades, for whom there was a weak relationship between homework and performance.

Cooper’s analysis focused on how homework impacts academic achievement—test scores, for example. His report noted that homework is also thought to improve study habits, attitudes toward school, self-discipline, inquisitiveness and independent problem solving skills. On the other hand, some studies he examined showed that homework can cause physical and emotional fatigue, fuel negative attitudes about learning and limit leisure time for children. At the end of his analysis, Cooper recommended further study of such potential effects of homework.

Despite the weak correlation between homework and performance for young children, Cooper argues that a small amount of homework is useful for all students. Second-graders should not be doing two hours of homework each night, he said, but they also shouldn’t be doing no homework.

Not all education experts agree entirely with Cooper’s assessment.

Cathy Vatterott , an education professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, supports the “10-minute rule” as a maximum, but she thinks there is not sufficient proof that homework is helpful for students in elementary school.

“Correlation is not causation,” she said. “Does homework cause achievement, or do high achievers do more homework?”

Vatterott, the author of Rethinking Homework: Best Practices That Support Diverse Needs , thinks there should be more emphasis on improving the quality of homework tasks, and she supports efforts to eliminate homework for younger kids.

“I have no concerns about students not starting homework until fourth grade or fifth grade,” she said, noting that while the debate over homework will undoubtedly continue, she has noticed a trend toward limiting, if not eliminating, homework in elementary school.

The issue has been debated for decades. A TIME cover in 1999 read: “Too much homework! How it’s hurting our kids, and what parents should do about it.” The accompanying story noted that the launch of Sputnik in 1957 led to a push for better math and science education in the U.S. The ensuing pressure to be competitive on a global scale, plus the increasingly demanding college admissions process, fueled the practice of assigning homework.

“The complaints are cyclical, and we’re in the part of the cycle now where the concern is for too much,” Cooper said. “You can go back to the 1970s, when you’ll find there were concerns that there was too little, when we were concerned about our global competitiveness.”

Cooper acknowledged that some students really are bringing home too much homework, and their parents are right to be concerned.

“A good way to think about homework is the way you think about medications or dietary supplements,” he said. “If you take too little, they’ll have no effect. If you take too much, they can kill you. If you take the right amount, you’ll get better.”

• Katie Reilly @katiemacreilly

Aug. 30, 2016

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School Life Balance , Tips for Online Students

The Pros and Cons of Homework

Updated: December 7, 2023

Published: January 23, 2020

Homework is a word that most students dread hearing. After hours upon hours of sitting in class , the last thing we want is more schoolwork over our precious weekends. While it’s known to be a staple of traditional schooling, homework has also become a rather divise topic. Some feel as though homework is a necessary part of school, while others believe that the time could be better invested. Should students have homework? Have a closer look into the arguments on both sides to decide for yourself.

Photo by  energepic.com  from  Pexels

Why should students have homework, 1. homework encourages practice.

Many people believe that one of the positive effects of homework is that it encourages the discipline of practice. While it may be time consuming and boring compared to other activities, repetition is needed to get better at skills. Homework helps make concepts more clear, and gives students more opportunities when starting their career .

2. Homework Gets Parents Involved

Homework can be something that gets parents involved in their children’s lives if the environment is a healthy one. A parent helping their child with homework makes them take part in their academic success, and allows for the parent to keep up with what the child is doing in school. It can also be a chance to connect together.

3. Homework Teaches Time Management

Homework is much more than just completing the assigned tasks. Homework can develop time management skills , forcing students to plan their time and make sure that all of their homework assignments are done on time. By learning to manage their time, students also practice their problem-solving skills and independent thinking. One of the positive effects of homework is that it forces decision making and compromises to be made.

4. Homework Opens A Bridge Of Communication

Homework creates a connection between the student, the teacher, the school, and the parents. It allows everyone to get to know each other better, and parents can see where their children are struggling. In the same sense, parents can also see where their children are excelling. Homework in turn can allow for a better, more targeted educational plan for the student.

5. Homework Allows For More Learning Time

Homework allows for more time to complete the learning process. School hours are not always enough time for students to really understand core concepts, and homework can counter the effects of time shortages, benefiting students in the long run, even if they can’t see it in the moment.

6. Homework Reduces Screen Time

Many students in North America spend far too many hours watching TV. If they weren’t in school, these numbers would likely increase even more. Although homework is usually undesired, it encourages better study habits and discourages spending time in front of the TV. Homework can be seen as another extracurricular activity, and many families already invest a lot of time and money in different clubs and lessons to fill up their children’s extra time. Just like extracurricular activities, homework can be fit into one’s schedule.

The Other Side: Why Homework Is Bad

1. homework encourages a sedentary lifestyle.

Should students have homework? Well, that depends on where you stand. There are arguments both for the advantages and the disadvantages of homework.

While classroom time is important, playground time is just as important. If children are given too much homework, they won’t have enough playtime, which can impact their social development and learning. Studies have found that those who get more play get better grades in school , as it can help them pay closer attention in the classroom.

Children are already sitting long hours in the classroom, and homework assignments only add to these hours. Sedentary lifestyles can be dangerous and can cause health problems such as obesity. Homework takes away from time that could be spent investing in physical activity.

2. Homework Isn’t Healthy In Every Home

While many people that think homes are a beneficial environment for children to learn, not all homes provide a healthy environment, and there may be very little investment from parents. Some parents do not provide any kind of support or homework help, and even if they would like to, due to personal barriers, they sometimes cannot. Homework can create friction between children and their parents, which is one of the reasons why homework is bad .

3. Homework Adds To An Already Full-Time Job

School is already a full-time job for students, as they generally spend over 6 hours each day in class. Students also often have extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or art that are just as important as their traditional courses. Adding on extra hours to all of these demands is a lot for children to manage, and prevents students from having extra time to themselves for a variety of creative endeavors. Homework prevents self discovery and having the time to learn new skills outside of the school system. This is one of the main disadvantages of homework.

4. Homework Has Not Been Proven To Provide Results

Endless surveys have found that homework creates a negative attitude towards school, and homework has not been found to be linked to a higher level of academic success.

The positive effects of homework have not been backed up enough. While homework may help some students improve in specific subjects, if they have outside help there is no real proof that homework makes for improvements.

It can be a challenge to really enforce the completion of homework, and students can still get decent grades without doing their homework. Extra school time does not necessarily mean better grades — quality must always come before quantity.

Accurate practice when it comes to homework simply isn’t reliable. Homework could even cause opposite effects if misunderstood, especially since the reliance is placed on the student and their parents — one of the major reasons as to why homework is bad. Many students would rather cheat in class to avoid doing their homework at home, and children often just copy off of each other or from what they read on the internet.

5. Homework Assignments Are Overdone

The general agreement is that students should not be given more than 10 minutes a day per grade level. What this means is that a first grader should be given a maximum of 10 minutes of homework, while a second grader receives 20 minutes, etc. Many students are given a lot more homework than the recommended amount, however.

On average, college students spend as much as 3 hours per night on homework . By giving too much homework, it can increase stress levels and lead to burn out. This in turn provides an opposite effect when it comes to academic success.

The pros and cons of homework are both valid, and it seems as though the question of ‘‘should students have homework?’ is not a simple, straightforward one. Parents and teachers often are found to be clashing heads, while the student is left in the middle without much say.

It’s important to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of homework, taking both perspectives into conversation to find a common ground. At the end of the day, everyone’s goal is the success of the student.

Related Articles

Texas Homeschooling Laws and Resources

Families who homeschool in Texas have just a few regulations and requirements to follow. Get an overview of the Texas homeschool laws here and a great introduction to the tools and resources available to you. 

Homeschooling in Texas Overview  

Notice of Intent Required: No

1 Option for Homeschooling: At Home Education

Subject or Curriculum Requirements: Yes

Attendance Age Requirements: 6-19 (or Earn High School Diploma)

Record-Keeping Requirements: No

Assessments or Evaluations Required: No

Proof of Immunization Required: Yes, Exemptions Available

Table of Contents

Texas Homeschooling Laws and Regulations How to Start Homeschooling Formal Withdrawal Letter Qualifications to Homeschool Mandatory School Age Subject Requirements Attendance Requirements Record-Keeping Requirements Required Immunizations

Resources for Homeschooling Families in Texas Public School Access Homeschool Groups and Co-ops Sports Opportunities Homeschool Field Trips Special Education Homeschoolers How Homeschool+ Curriculum Can Help Homeschool FAQ 

How to Start Homeschooling in Texas

Starting your homeschool journey in Texas is a relatively simple process because homeschool laws in Texas are minimal. They require families to do the following:

• Provide “bona fide” instruction. In other words, Texas homeschool families agree to actively pursue an education at home.
• Use a visual curriculum. Texas law says you may use any curriculum, but it must be “visual.” 
• Include reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and citizenship in their courses of study.

 Submitting a Formal Withdrawal Letter in Texas

Families don’t need to register with the state or file a notice of intent. However, if you are withdrawing your children from public school to begin homeschooling, you do need to submit a formal withdrawal letter or email. Here’s an example of how to do that frim the Texas Homeschool Coalition.

Additionally, local districts may ask home educators to provide written assurance that they homeschool their children. This is as simple as sending a letter or email with your children’s names and stating that you are legally educating them at home.

Back to Top

Qualifications to Homeschool in Texas

There are no requirements for homeschool instructors in Texas. Children may be taught by their parents or guardians or participate in local homeschool classes, learn from other home educators, take online courses, etc.

All you need to homeschool is a passion for your child’s education and a willingness to put in the time and effort it requires.

Mandatory School Age in Texas

When children turn 6, they must start school by September 1st of that school year. Home educators may choose to start school earlier. Children in Texas must continue to attend school until they turn 19 or earn their high school diploma or equivalency, whichever comes first. Learn more here.

Texas Homeschool Subject & Curriculum Requirements

Texas requires families to use “visual curriculum programs.” These might include (but aren’t limited to) textbooks, workbooks, written educational materials, online programs, or videos. You can use pre-made curriculum programs or create your own, but all materials must be visual.

To comply with Texas homeschool laws, your children must learn reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and citizenship. The Texas Homeschool Coalition offers a detailed guide to finding and selecting homeschool curriculum programs.

TIP: You can choose any curriculum programs you like for teaching Texas’s required subjects.

Texas Homeschool Attendance Requirements  

Texas does not require a specific number of school instruction days or hours per day. 

Texas Homeschool Record-Keeping Requirements 

You’re not legally required to keep any homeschool records in Texas, including attendance records, academic records or assessments, evaluations, and work samples. However, families should consider creating a record of their children’s home education, as it can prove helpful for college or trade school admissions or if they enroll in public school.

Required Immunizations for Homeschoolers in Texas

Texas requires immunizations for all children, regardless of their school choice. However, families may file exemptions to these requirements. Learn about Texas immunization requirements and exemptions here.

Resources for Homeschool Families in Texas

Homeschooling families often seek opportunities to enhance their children’s education, promote socialization, and empower their homeschooling journey. 

Families can achieve this by joining homeschool groups, co-ops, or larger associations. These connections can provide valuable resources and opportunities for homeschooling families to engage with other like-minded individuals, share ideas, and learn from each other. Learn more about these groups, sports opportunities, field trips, and public school access below.

Texas Homeschool Public School Access

Each school district decides if homeschooled children can attend classes at local public schools. Texas law does not require districts to allow homeschoolers to take classes at public schools.

TIP: If you want your children to take one or more classes at your local public school, contact the district to learn more about your options.

Homeschool Organizations, Groups, Co-ops and Associations

Homeschool families can benefit greatly from the resources and support homeschool organizations, groups, co-ops, and associations provide.

Homeschool associations are typically more formal than traditional groups or co-ops and may require membership fees. These entities often offer access to events, information, resources, legal assistance, and advocacy efforts. 

Texas has several options to support your family as you homeschool.

• Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) : This association has many resources for homeschoolers, as well as advice, social and educational events, and advocacy assistance.
• Texas Home Educators : Join this association for free lesson plan ideas, local group support, events, and more.
• Homeschoolers Unlimited Texas H.U.T. : This group welcomes homeschool families in the Corpus Christi and the surrounding areas.
• Homeschool Organization of South Texas : This Christian volunteer-led, homeschool support organization primarily serves the Coastal Bend area. 

Texas Home Educators has a fantastic resource directory of homeschool groups and co-ops throughout the state.

Sports Opportunities for Homeschoolers in Texas

Texas law doesn’t require public schools to include homeschoolers in sports, and the decision is left to each school district. Contact them directly to learn their policies on sports.

Fortunately, homeschoolers have many ways to participate in sports outside of public schools. Local homeschool groups and co-ops often have their own sports leagues or classes. Plus, youth sports organizations are available in many communities. Here are some options to get you started:

Texas Homeschool Field Trips 

Texas is a big state with lots to see! Choose places that fit with your curriculum or explore a location of interest to your students. 

Looking for outdoor Texas field trips? The state has nearly 90 state parks and historic sites, which you can explore. The state is also home to Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park , along with other national historical sites, wildlife refuges, and more.

Fourth graders and their families are eligible for free admission to national parks (restrictions apply) through the Every Kid Outdoors pass.

Texas cities are full of cultural opportunities and museums. Houston’s Museum District has 19 museums, including the Children’s Museum and Houston Zoo. It’s also home to  Space Center Houston . In Austin, visit the State Capitol and the LBJ Presidential Library . In Dallas, head to Old City Park to see Texas history brought to life, catch a show at the Dallas Children’s Theatre , or spend a day at the Perot Museum of Nature & Science.

Many museums and attractions offer group discounts and special homeschool programs. Homeschool families can take advantage of these by teaming up with other local homeschoolers for field trips.

Homeschool families have the unique opportunity to plan field trips whenever and wherever they like.

Special Education Homeschoolers

For families homeschooling students with special needs in Texas, it is worth the effort to be considered a private school under the homeschooling options. 

This private school designation opens up the opportunity for the student to receive special education funds that have been granted to the local school district through federal and state funding.

Texas has many statewide homeschooling organizations and associations that are active in protecting the rights of homeschoolers in the state. These organizations are also an excellent resource for families of students with special needs, as they can help parents navigate the legalities and requirements of being designated as a private school.

How Homeschool+ Curriculum Can Help You Homeschool in Texas

Texas homeschool families can use the Homeschool+ curriculum to meet the “visual curriculum” requirement for several subjects, including mathematics and reading. Homeschool+ Curriculum includes fully adaptive math and reading programs for children ages 4 to 8; twelve online courses covering art, science, social studies, and more; and robust home educator tools that support your unique homeschool. Each course is customizable and created by curriculum experts.

The freedom and flexibility of Homeschool+ extend to the Home Educator Tools, which include a progress tracker for each child and a lesson planner. 

The Lesson Planner lets you customize the Homeschool+ curriculum by adding, removing, or moving lessons to meet the unique needs of your homeschool. Complete Lesson Plans support offline learning, providing three levels of exploration to take learning into the real world.

Your passion for homeschooling plus our powerful mastery curriculum can help your child build a strong foundation for future success. Learn more about the Homeschool+ Curriculum programs and how they can help your students learn and grow. [

Texas Homeschool FAQ

Is texas a homeschool-friendly state.

Texas is a very appealing state for homeschool families. You can make your own educational choices as long as you provide a visual curriculum in reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and citizenship. There are no record-keeping or attendance requirements and no need to register with the state.

How do I enroll my child in public school after homeschooling?

If you decide to enroll your child in public school, contact your local school district. They will determine the proper grade placement and course requirements. Provide any educational records you’ve kept to help with these determinations. Your child may need to take standardized assessments or complete evaluations as well.

How do Texas homeschool students receive diplomas or transcripts?

The state of Texas does not issue diplomas or transcripts to homeschoolers. Home educators can issue their own diplomas. Students may also earn diplomas through homeschool co-ops, online curriculum programs, or other means. Home educators can create transcripts for their children using any educational records they’ve kept along the way.

Does Texas pay for homeschooling costs?

No. Families in Texas are responsible for any and all costs associated with homeschooling. 

Is unschooling legal in Texas?

Yes, unschooling is legal in all fifty states, including Texas. Learn more from Texas Unschoolers.

Legal Disclaimers

“The information and materials provided are for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, or other professional advice.

Any links provided to third-party resources are provided for convenience only. We do not sponsor or endorse, and are not affiliated with such parties, unless explicitly stated otherwise. We do not maintain or control these websites. Information presented on these sites may not be current or accurate – it is your responsibility to determine its accuracy and usefulness. By clicking on the links provided, you understand that you may be subject to additional terms and conditions and the privacy policies of such third parties.

Age of Learning makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained on, or available through, this website, or its suitability for any purpose, and such information is subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this website with other sources, and review all information regarding any information with a trained legal professional.”

The Liberty Champion

The official student newspaper of Liberty University

Is Homework Really Necessary?

Did you get all your homework done?

We’ve all heard that phrase one too many times before, and now it triggers your fight-or-flight response. Every waking thought is about an assignment you should be doing or that project you really should start but you just can’t bring yourself to face it. Is all this homework really necessary?  

Unfortunately, it just might be. Is the homework itself the problem, or is it the amount we end up with after classes are over for the day and your bed is looking really comfy? To figure all this out we have to remember why we get homework in the first place and what school would be like without it.  

In the very early 1900s, homework was actually considered unhealthy for children and was classified as child labor because it interfered with their ability to do chores around the house. The U.S. Department of Education called homework a tool for “boosting educational quality” when it was reinstated, and it became mandatory in 1986 after being rejected for so long, as recorded by the University of San Diego.  

It’s always good to look at the pros and cons of something when deciding how you feel about it. So, what does homework do for us? Quite a few things actually.  

First let’s address the elephant in the room. No one enjoys homework unless you’re a camp and outdoor adventure leadership (COAL) major. We all have something we would rather spend our time on; that’s just the way it is.  

However, when that test rolls around, most of us are glad we stayed late at the library until we understood what we were reading. According to the University of San Diego, students only absorb 50% of what they hear in a class lecture. If that’s all you had to learn from, keeping your GPA above a 3.5 would be considered a superpower.  

Whether we like it or not, homework helps us retain important information and truly grasp the concepts we are studying. Hearing about it once from your professor is great, but life as a college student is so busy that your chances of remembering everything you heard in all of your classes are next to none. Repetition is the key to retention, and other than experience training, studying the material you were given and doing your homework is how you’re going to graduate.  

Then why is it such a problem? Why is it affecting people so negatively? No degree is worth your mental health; it’s time to look at the cons of homework.  

I believe the real problem with homework is the amount of it. Yes, we need it to learn, but our brains can only handle so much at a time. Oftentimes the standard college workload demands that we push our minds past the limit or face a late penalty. This is what causes the exhaustion and resentment that we constantly push through for the sake of good grades and gold chords.  

 Studies conducted by the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Department of Health say shorter study sessions per day and more consistency over a longer period of time is the best way to retain information while not pushing yourself to your mental limit. However, there is so much to be done that studying for a mere three hours a day isn’t even practical.  

Students would actually be able to study in a healthy way and retain information long term if we were not assigned and asked to complete in one week what psychological studies say should take at least two.   

So, to answer the question: Yes, homework is definitely necessary. The real problem is how much we are required to process in such a short time.   

As finals inch closer by the day, make a point to take care of your mind and give yourself breaks not only while studying but also from other things that can cloud your brain like social media. Coping with huge workloads is a process, so make lists, take deep breaths and get to bed on time. We’re gonna make it; I promise.  

Barber is the off-campus news editor for the Liberty Champion

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• Opinion/Editorial

Pros and Cons of making homework optional

Pro Catherine Gagulashvili  calendar manager Not doing anything is so much easier than doing something. By nature, students would rather avoid doing strenuous amounts of homework, simply because it’s less taxing. When given the option to not do homework on a daily basis, the average student may leap at the opportunity to slack off. They would do that without taking into account the fact that being assigned optional homework is one of the most academically potent opportunities a high school student can be offered. Homework should be made optional because it teaches students to be held accountable for their actions. The daily, mandatory assignment of homework is something that should be enforced and practiced throughout elementary and middle school, but should slowly be phased out once a student graduates to high school. Once a student enters high school, he or she should be prepared to let go of the culture that comforted and guided them through elementary and middle school; it’s time to grow up. Simply put, making homework optional further prepares students on the path of expectations in college and in life. Optional homework should be viewed as an opportunity to pace oneself and to practice what needs to be practiced. If a student excels in a subject without needing extra practice, why force him or her to do that extra homework for the sake of simply going through the motions? If a student has clearly mastered an academic skill or an ability, it is pointless and counterproductive to force him or her to overpractice. By making homework a mandatory assignment, teachers force their students to waste their time on something that might be redundant. Assigning optional homework allows the student to better his or her time management skills. Considering that the average high school student receives 3.5 hours of homework per day , the opportunity to receive optional homework allows students to properly prioritize their work and maximize their time. It allows for flexibility in a student’s life. For students who balance six to seven academic classes and have a sport, having optional homework allows them to spread out their assignments over a longer period of time. If taken advantage of properly , optional homework forces the student to budget his or her time, allocating the right amount of study time for each assignment. In addition, it allows the student to work at his or her own pace. The assignment of optional homework has been used on Beverly’s campus. Geometry and IAT teacher Dustin Mathias assigns optional homework, or as he calls them, “suggested problems” in his classroom. He has found that suggested problems give students more options, teach them how to be responsible and force them to “be honest with themselves and what they need to do.” By no means is one to assume that every student will do his or her homework if it isn’t mandatory. The goal is to have students realize that they have to do the work even if no one is watching. College professors don’t check to see if each student did the reading: they give a final.  High school has a more hands-on approach to learning, but as students transition to being upperclassmen, they need to realize that they are required to dedicate a certain amount of time and energy to a class, regardless if it’s in the form of doing their homework, studying, taking notes or paying attention in class. The average student may view optional homework as an opportunity to slack off, completely disregarding the fact that by doing so, they are setting themselves up for failure. After graduating high school, the student will likely fail to realize that tasks need to be completed not because they need someone else’s approval, but because otherwise failure will await them at every turn. Not doing any homework and failing a test is the equivalent of not doing work at the job and getting fired. No one should have to consistently tell one to do his or her job; one should know one’s responsibility to accomplish goals independently in a satisfactory and timely manner. While both mandatory and optional homework assignments have their pros and cons, some find that mandatory homework does more harm than good. C hild education, parenting and human behavior expert Alfie Kohn finds that “There [is] simply no compelling data to justify the practice of making kids work what amounts to a second shift when they get home from a full day of school.” While Kohn takes it to the extreme opinion by stating “no homework should be the norm,” he brings up the valid point that the assignment of  mandatory homework forces a student to spend his or her entire day focused on academics. Some students will not thrive in an atmosphere that forces them to be held accountable for their actions. But hopefully, if they are forced to deal with the real world consequences for long enough, they will come to realize what their voluntary obligations are. If every class continues to assign homework that is checked on a daily basis, students will not be prepared for college and for life. Assigning optional homework is the stepping-stone through which students learn to be held accountable for their decisions, work and actions. Con Sam Bernstein staff writer Homework needs to be mandatory. It is a fact that students do better after completing homework at home. It’s a fact that students do better when homework is mandatory. There is no reason at all to make homework optional. Not giving credit to those that complete homework nightly is also unfair. With admission into college getting more and more competitive, students need every point they can get. Completing assignments and not getting points for them is absurd and only hurts students chances of getting into the college. Homework points can be the difference between a B and an A for some students, and it hurts students  It’s simply wasting students’ time that they could be spending completing assignments that count for points in other classes. If a kid is willing to put in the work to get an A, teachers should reward them. “The school needs to think about everybody, and if homework was not mandatory, some students who are doing below average would do worse if they had an option to do even less,” sophomore Colin Newberry said. This is school. In real life you’ll lose credibility for not completing tasks. School should be a model of what real life is and what real life will be, as it is a developmental place. Teens need to know responsibility, and having a responsibility to complete homework teaches young minds how to have jobs in the future. Homework is the most basic form of this responsibility. Homework is graded for a reason. Students work hard to complete daily assignments and deserve credit for doing so. Not getting credit for homework is like waiting a table and not getting a tip. If a student is willing to put work into your class, they deserve credit. It’s also a way to give credit for efforts in a class. Students that don’t happen to be good test takers should have another way to make up points lost. “I wouldn’t do the homework without an incentive such as a grade,” freshman Eva Levin said. Other students could attest to that. “If there’s no mandatory studying or homework to be done, then most won’t care about it because is doesn’t affect their grade whether or not they do it,” freshman Nathan Naghi said. Cutting corners is human nature. “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it,” Bill Gates said.  If optional homework has to be cut for students to spend an extra hour on other studying, they’ll do it. By not doing homework, there’s no way to assess how your knowledge of the subject is growing. Sitting in a class for 53 minutes cannot possibly give you enough understanding of a subject to take anything away from it. Homework fundamentally exists to remind students what they learned in class by providing practice problems similar to those on future assessments. By not helping students out in this regard, teachers are setting students up for failure. By encouraging students with points, both students and teachers can spend less time on review and on more time exploring new concepts. “Homework is designed specifically to complement the lessons taught by teachers during class. Sometimes the lessons lack in class, forcing students to essentially teach themselves at home, further reiterating the cruciality of homework,” junior Ethan Manaster said. Not every student has the diligence to sit at a desk and study at their own will. Students do, however, have the diligence to complete homework for points. And by encouraging students through rewards, they’ll learn from the homework they’re forced to do. By teaching students the rewards of being dedicated at getting better  with challenges in life, they’re better prepared to go off into the job force and make a true impact. Students could absolutely be hard working and do their own studying at their own pace. Nobody is getting anywhere by blindly distrusting students. But by giving students guidance in their studying, you’re doing them a solid. Teachers have been to college and are professionally trained to work with young minds. They know what to assign you and how to assign it. They know what’s on their tests and they know how much practice needs to happen outside of class to reach your highest potential on those said tests. Teachers aren’t just there to provide Kahoot codes and to yell at you for sliding into Sarahahs in class. Their purpose is to guide you. By not enabling teachers to guide students, you’re taking away from the purpose of a teacher’s’ job; to teach. By restricting the work teachers can get their students to do, you’re diminishing from the amount of content teachers can teach in a semester. Teachers can go faster when nearly everyone in the class is completing homework. By making homework optional, teachers can not reach their maximum potential with classes. Students, teachers and everyone in between cannot function at their highest potential without assigning mandatory homework.

• beverly hills high school
• Catherine Gagulashvili
• mandatory homework
• optional homework
• sam bernstein

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Emma • Feb 26, 2023 at 12:02 pm

Five days a week for almost nine months, students spend almost their entire day at school learning concepts and doing tedious work. Even after school, they go home and do even more work. According to College Homework Help, in the year 1905, homework was invented as a punishment for kids. Yet for some reason, it is now assigned almost every night. Homework can be boring, unnecessary, and sometimes just busy work for most students. Therefore, optional homework should be implemented in order to provide the extra practice for those who want it, without penalizing those who do not.

Texas Unschoolers

Supporting an alternative approach to life and learning

Meeting the Texas Homeschool Law Requirements

Guest post by sue patterson.

Sometimes unschoolers worry about meeting the legal requirements for homeschooling. In the state of Texas, thanks to the Leeper decision, homeschoolers are considered private schools. What this means is that your local public school has no jurisdiction over what you do.

If you recently removed your child from the school system, it’s possible you were confronted with school officials who didn’t really understand this aspect of the law. You do NOT have to provide a list of curricula you plan to use, or any other piece of information about the learning that will be taking place in your homeschool. It’s none of their business. While saying that to them may create more of a headache for you, I’d suggest that even if they do say inaccurate or uninformed comments, just smile, nod, and say, “where do I sign to wrap this up?”

The other piece of the Texas law sometimes makes unschoolers hesitate. Texas reqires that homeschoolers learn about reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and good citizenship. While you do not have to allot certain times for these topics, as the parent, you’ll want to be sure they cross your child’s path. But this can be done casually and informally. That’s often the way learning happens best anyway! Some quick examples of ways to learn these topics without textbooks:

Here are some helpful facts to know about the laws in Texas:

• School age in Texas: 6-17
• “Curriculum” consists of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, good citizenship
• Local school districts have no jurisdiction over homeschools (since they are legally considered private schools.)
• No prior approval is required for your curriculum.
• No one is likely to ask to see your homeschooling records, but it is a good idea to maintain some sort of account of your children’s work. (scrapbooks, flyers from museums, blog posts, a simple notebook with weekly entries, a portfolio of their work)
• Standardized tests are not required for Texas homeschool students.
• You are not required to follow the schedule and calendar that the local public schools use.
• If your children have never attended public schools, you do not need to register with anyone, and you do not need to notify any governmental agency that you are homeschooling.
• Compulsory Attendance – 170 days – Only applies to public schools
• Know your curfew laws – individual city ordinances

Sue Patterson

This blog post was adapted from a talk Sue gave at the 2015 Texas Unschoolers Conference . You can find a PDF of the slides here .

Learn more about Sue on our Contributors page.

Texas Homeschool Laws provides a detailed explanation of the court rulings and laws as well as guidance on how to withdraw your child from public school.

Polk County now under mandatory evacuation due to heavy rainfall and flooding

POLK COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A voluntary evacuation has been upgraded to mandatory for parts of Polk County on Monday due to heavy rainfall and flooding moving across the area.

Officials issued the voluntary order Monday morning for residents below the Lake Livingston Dam and in low-lying areas along the Trinity River. Hours later, officials said the evacuation order was mandatory.

The Trinity River Authority reportedly increased the discharge from the dam significantly, which officials said could exacerbate flooding in those areas.

The county said the National Weather Service has also forecasted additional rainfall throughout the week, which may cause further damage and prevent access to roadways.

Residents who evacuate are encouraged to first seek shelter with relatives, friends, or in a hotel.

Shelter will also be available at Dunbar Gym at 1103 Dunbar Ave. in Livingston.

The Texas Department of Transportation shared images on X, formerly known as Twitter, of Highway 59 in Polk County covered in water, urging drivers to turn around if they see flooding.

The Polk County Emergency Management asked pet owners to also take precautions for their animals, especially in low-lying areas and along the Trinity River.

Officials said water releases are expected to continue.

TEAM COVERAGE: Tornado tears through Trinity Co. while flooding threatens Polk Co. residents

MORE SEVERE WEATHER COVERAGE:

• Strong thunderstorms continue through early Monday morning, flash flood threat for some
• Houston-area school and college closings and delays
• Overnight storms cause partial collapse of industrial facility in Baytown

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Victim says HPD only now 'hungry for information' in suspended cases