Author: G. Li, Megaphone Editor-in-chief

^{Photo from KHTS}

In the new year, a new law is set to create healthy boundaries separating the school and home life for students. The “Healthy Homework Act”, or AB 2999, is a law which plans to prevent excessive stress placed on students because of homework. Written by assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, this law compels schools to create homework policies in consideration of student physical and mental health to prevent excessive stress placed on students. 

Research has proven that homework is ineffective when burdened on students to an excessive quantity, and, when homework quality is higher, students are more compelled to complete it. Too much homework results in high amounts of stress, with 45 percent of pupils considering homework to be a primary source of stress, according to Assembly Bill No. 2999. Sleep deprivation and having less time for family, friends, and activities outside of homework are also reported and personally felt effects of excessive amounts of homework.

The law mentions that well-designed homework supports learning for those who may not have enough time outside of school to complete it, and homework that does not depend on parental involvement or access to technology. 

AB2999 specifically encourages each educational agency to develop a homework policy for all grades by the 2027-2028 school year that is able to ensure that the homework they recommend is proven by evidence to support student learning and wellbeing, and to formally adopt a final homework policy by the 2028-2029 school year. Educational agencies are advised to collect data from students, parents, teachers, and other school staff and determine the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of certain practices in regards to homework. 

Pilar Schiavo hopes to prevent students from missing school or dropping out due to an overwhelming amount of homework. She states, “kids are getting behind. They just get into a hole when you miss homework. You have homework the next day, you are trying to catch up from the old homework – too much homework can overwhelm them.” 

This statement from Assemblymember Schiavo rings true with many, including myself, a student currently in high school. Missing a single day means double the amount of homework to be done the next day, not to mention missing a week. If you are sick, coming back to school means completing all the homework you missed, plus the homework that is due during the week you are back. It snowballs into something completely unmanageable. 

In a survey conducted by nonprofit organization Challenge Success and Stanford University, it has been found that 45% out of more than 300,000 student respondent in America list homework as their primary source of stress, with 13,000 students reporting an average of 2.5 hours of homework a night. 

Assembly Bill no. 2999 was signed into law by California governor Gavin Newsom on September 27, 2024. In response to this bill being signed into law, we asked three high school students what they think about this law, and how they think it will affect them. 

Student 1: “I agree because I think students procrastinate doing their homework a lot and resort to often cheating off each other or using the internet/AI to finish their assignments. The healthy homework act is really what I think should be enforced since learning doesn’t end in the classroom but extends beyond.” 

Student 2: “I support the idea of schools and teachers having to ensure that the homework they assign will actually support a student’s learning, because while most of my teachers are reasonable with the amount of homework they assign, occasionally, it feels as though other teachers assign homework just for the sake of assigning it. Such assignments, in my opinion, do not enhance my understanding of the topics being taught in class, as they usually consist of busywork. This is frustrating for me because I end up spending hours on end working on a project, for example, where I spend 90% of the time doing random art and only 10% of the time actually deepening my understanding of the topic being taught in class.”

Student 3: “As both a student and an editor, I see firsthand the impact of excessive homework on students’ mental health, motivation, and overall well-being. While homework is an essential tool for reinforcing learning, an overwhelming workload often leads to stress, sleep deprivation, and even burnout. I appreciate that AB 2999 recognizes these challenges and encourages evidence-based policies that prioritize student well-being. However, I also believe that the effectiveness of this law will depend on how schools implement it. If done right, it could create a healthier balance between academic rigor and personal time, ultimately fostering a more engaging and meaningful learning experience for students.”