School board revises homework policy for Scott City Middle School

Changes to homework policy for Scott City Middle School were approved with a 6-0 vote by the Scott City board of education Wednesday night and goes into effect today for the second quarter.

The new policy will focus on positive reinforcements such as a trip to a movie, a Southeast Missouri State University production or eating lunch off campus for students who turn in all but one of their homework assignments in any of their classes.

For example, a student who turns in all but one homework in science will be eligible for the rewards.

Under the new policy, parents will be notified at the first and second missed homework assignment by the student's teacher and on the third missed homework assignment by principal Paul Sharp.

There will be no more tutoring or detentions.

"We're trying to focus on the incentives," Sharp said.

During last quarter, on the first missed homework assignment parents were notified by the teacher and the student did not receive any credit.

On the second through fourth missed assignments, the parents were notified by the teacher and the student had to attend a tutoring detention where they were able to make up the missed assignments for half credit. Transportation home from that tutoring session was provided.

From the fifth missed assignment on, the teacher and Sharp notified the parents and the student received a detention and received no credit for his or her homework and did not get a ride home.