Watchdog Indiana Home Page K-12 Education Research Compilation & Summaries Homework Enhances Learning Potential (H.E.L.P.) H.E.L.P. Indiana Reasons to Support H.E.L.P. Third Grade "Best Practices" Third Grade Best Practices Inventory Report K-12 State Tuition Support

H.E.L.P. Legislation

Listed next is a Preliminary Draft of Homework Enhances Learning Potential legislation applicable to Indiana. Please send an E-mail to taxless3@comcast.net if you wish to receive a PDF version of this Preliminary Draft.

PRELIMINARY DRAFT
No. 4101

PREPARED BY
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
2011 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

DIGEST

Citations Affected: IC 20-33-6.5

Synopsis: Homework partner program. Creates the homework enhances learning potential program to provide
effective homework supervision for public school students in grades 1 through 3. Makes an appropriation.

Effective: July 1, 2011.

First Regular Session 117th General Assembly (2011)

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education and to make an appropriation.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

    SECTION 1. IC 20-33-6.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS
FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2011]:
    Chapter 6.5 Homework Enhances Learning Potential Program
    Sec 1. This chapter applies to all public schools, including charter schools that enroll students in
grades 1 through 3.
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "homework partner" means a parent, relative, neighbor, or individual
who is at least 14 years of age and who provides effective homework supervision to a student in grade 1,
2, or 3.
    Sec 3. As used in this chapter, "homework rates" means the percentage of students who submit
homework satisfactorily completed under the supervision of a homework partner every day the students
attended school during a school week (except the first day of the school year and excluding a student on
the student's first day back from an excused absence).
    Sec 4. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the homework enhances learning potential
program established under section 5 of this chapter.
    Sec 5. The homework enhances learning potential program is established to provide effective
homework supervision every school day for students enrolled in grades 1 through 3. The program shall
be administered by the department.
    Sec. 6. Each teacher who is assigned to teach in grades 1 through 3 shall:
        (1) assign meaningful homework to students daily that has a connection to academic achievement;
        and
        (2) record on the last day of each week for each student:
            (A) the days of the week that the student was in attendance; and
            (B) subject to the exception in section 3 of this chapter, whether the student successfully
            completed all assigned homework for the week under the supervision of a homework partner for
            the days the student was in attendance.
    Sec. 7. Each school shall provide information to homework partners on how to provide effective
homework supervision to students.
    Sec. 8. (a) Each school shall compute a separate cumulative homework rate for each grade 1, 2, and 3
class.
    (b) The rates determined under this section shall not include the names of teachers or students.
    (c) The rates determined under this section must be included on the school's Internet web site not
later than the second day after the last day in each school week.
    Sec. 9. (a) Each school shall maintain:
        (1) a current file that is less than one (1) year old that includes a limited criminal history record for
        each homework partner; and
        (2) a list of homework partners approved by the school.
    (b) The data concerning individuals listed under subsection (a) shall exclude:
        (1) a parent; or
        (2) a parent's designee.
    Sec. 10. Each governing body shall:
        (1) solicit volunteers from the community to become a homework partner; and
        (2) publicize the homework rates of each school within the school corporation at least twice a school
        year.
    Sec. 11. The department must include on the department's Internet web site the following information:
        (1) Guidelines for:
            (A) teachers concerning how to prepare and assign daily homework assignments that have a
            meaningful connection to academic achievement for students; and
            (B) homework partners concerning how to provide effective homework supervision to students.
        (2) Data concerning homework rates for each school displayed according to county and school
        corporation that includes the following:
            (A) The name of the school.
            (B) The school number.
            (C) The school's current homework rates.
            (D) A link to the school.
    Sec. 12. (a) This section applies to a school corporation that includes a school that inputs homework
rates for the first time.
    (b) For each school that inputs homework rates for the first time during a school year, two dollars ($2)
for each grade 1, 2, and 3 student in the school will be sent to the applicable school corporation. The
distribution shall take place at the time of the next state tuition support distribution in accordance with
IC 20-43-2 after the pupil enrollment is determined in accordance with IC 20-43-4.
    Sec. 13. (a) This section applies to a school corporation that includes a school that inputs homework
rates weekly during a school year.
    (b) For each school that inputs homework rates weekly throughout the school year, two dollars ($2)
for each grade 1, 2, and 3 student enrolled in its school will be sent to the applicable school corporation.
The distribution will take place at the time of the next state tuition support distribution after the end of
the school year in accordance with IC 20-43-2.
    Sec. 14. There is appropriated a sufficient amount to the department from the state general fund to
implement this chapter.

This page was last updated on 02/03/11.