Too Much Homework? Where We Should Draw The Line

Many parents and educators have accepted the fact that homework is part of the learning process. But when does it become too much for students to handle?

Homework is nothing new, but many parents are concerned their children are being assigned too much.

In fact the issue has gotten so extreme many parents are now pulling their children out of traditional schools and homeschooling them instead. So where should we draw the line?

A clinical psychologist with the "Child Mind Institute" says younger children should get no more than 20 minutes of homework a day. That's in line with the National PTA's recommendation of 10 to 20 minutes per night in first grade, and an additional 10 minutes per grade level after that.

By 12th grade, it's up to two hours per night.

"Their attention span is short and they need to excel at other things, they need to be making and keeping friends and spending time with their families," said Dr. Jamie Howard, Child Mind Institute.

Parents who homeschool agree and say their children learn more life lessons during the times when they're not doing homework.

A recent study found homework does not improve overall grades but does help students do better on tests.