Common Core 7th Grade ELA Question of the Day
Test your knowledge with a hand-picked multiple-choice question.
Homework should be limited to an optional 20-minute practice window for middle schoolers. Opponents say more homework builds responsibility and deepens skills. However, research shows diminishing returns after modest amounts: a Duke University review found excessive homework in middle school correlates with higher stress and no clear gains in achievement. Last year, Brookview District piloted a 20-minute cap with choice boards; benchmark scores stayed level, yet missing assignments dropped by half, and counselors documented a 30 percent decline in stress-related visits. Families also report that shorter, optional practice leaves time for reading, clubs, and sleep, which are linked to better attention in class. Teachers can still provide targeted extensions for students who want them. Given the evidence, our school should adopt an optional, time-limited homework policy that preserves learning while improving student well-being.
Which sentence would best strengthen the conclusion of this argument?