Palo Alto Unified School District’s Board of Education plans on revisiting the homework policy for seven-period days, following a survey taken by PAUSD secondary school students. 

While the majority of the results were positive, homework being assigned on seven-period days was a noticeable problem.

According to the survey, 66 percent of secondary school students have been assigned homework due on a seven-period day.

“I have had some teachers assign homework on a seven-period day,” Palo Alto High School sophomore Watson Koegler said. “It is frustrating because it is hard to prepare for and usually takes a lot of time out of the weekend.”

Board of Education President Kenneth Dauber echoed these sentiments during the Feb. 22 meeting.

“I have had some teachers assign homework on a seven-period day. It is frustrating because it is hard to prepare for and usually takes a lot of time out of the weekend.”

— Watson Koegler, sophomore

“It’s disappointing to see that students are reporting some level of non-compliance with aspects around homework being due on seven-period days,” Dauber said.

The results have prompted a request for more data, as well as an inquiry into which classes are the source of this problem.

“Because of the survey, the staff is aware that there is more work to be done and they are committed to continuing to work toward full compliance with Board policy,” Board of Education Vice President Jennifer DiBrienza said. “The staff has indicated that they are interested in looking more closely at the data to see if there is a particular school, department, grade level, teachers who still need support in aligning with the directive.”