DB8 Speech & Debate Academy
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H.R. 145·Elementary Intermediate

A Bill to Limit Homework in Grades K-5

Rep. Park (D-NJ)

Caps homework at 10 minutes per grade level per night for K-5 schools that take federal funds.

Sec. 1 — Mandate

Public schools receiving federal funds shall not assign more than 10 minutes of homework per grade level per night.

Sec. 2 — Exceptions

Independent reading and family projects do not count toward the limit.

Sec. 3 — Enforcement

Parents may report violations to the state education agency, which audits the district.

Sec. 4 — Funding

$5 million to train teachers in homework-light lesson design.

Tournament Prep

Mechanical parts, sourced & timed

Use this as your pre-round checklist. Memorize the source citation. Time yourself to the delivery target.

Bill / Number
H.R. 145 — A Bill to Limit Homework in Grades K-5
Funding source
$5M from ED teacher professional-development account.
Timeline
Effective next school year.
Realistic — policy change, no infrastructure required.
Enforcing agency
State ed agencies, with parent complaint pathway.
Partially — relies on parent reporting, which can be uneven.
Penalty for non-compliance
District-level audit and corrective action plan.
Source citation
Cooper, Robinson & Patall (2006), Duke University meta-analysis — duke.edu.
Delivery time (read aloud)
55s
Strongest counter-argument

Limiting homework hurts students whose parents can't supplement at home.

Your pre-emptive answer

Cooper's Duke meta-analysis (2006) found *zero* academic benefit to K-5 homework. The kids who 'need it most' are precisely those whose parents can't help — so traditional homework widens, not closes, the gap.