I understand that homework has gotten more challenging for top students, and standardized tests do show more high scores than they used to. There are also increasing numbers of APs.
However, scores for average students are going nowhere. I really don’t believe that the average student with a 20 ACT in high school was really overloaded with homework at any point.
I would certainly like to see schools do a better job overseeing what teachers assign for homework, and focus elementary homework on value added English and math. I am sure we would all like to be rid of the busy work. However, the English and math are critical.
The suggestion that English and math homework does not benefit students is just obviously wrong. It can’t be true that more reading and math practice is not beneficial.
I can tell you what will happen if you stop assigning homework. The same thing that happens in the summer. The more educated and higher income parents are more likely to give their kids assignments and involve them in more activities that support education and development. Those students progress while the rest of the students lose ground, and the gap between the top and bottom students grows wider. Then everyone wonders why the students in low income and uneducated families are getting further behind.