CALGARY — A Calgary couple who say teachers are assigning kids too much “busy work” have signed a no-homework contract with their children’s school.

Tom and Shelli Milley say it’s too much to ask students to attend classes all day and then do a lot of homework at night.

The Milley children are in primary school at St. Brigid elementary-junior high school.

Their mother began researching the pros and cons of homework two years ago.

She says there was little to support a link between home assignments and grades.

She formed a committee at St. Brigid to examine the issue, although her husband says reaction at the school level was decidedly mixed.

“How fair is it to ask our kids to put in a full day’s work at school and then come home at night and do another shift?” he asked.

An opt-out clause in the contract has its roots in frustration with what Tom Milley says are assignments given for the sake of assigning them.

“One size fits all (is) just not the way it works. People learn differently,” he said.

The sentiments found a sympathetic ear with the Calgary Catholic School District board, which recently formalized a deal with the Milleys. It’s called a “differentiated homework plan.” Spencer, 11, and Brittany, 10, are graded solely on classroom work.

The school board had already struck a committee last spring to examine homework. Some parents want more of it, while others share the Milleys’ concerns, said spokeswoman Tania Younker.

“There are other instances throughout our schools where individual plans are determined for students,” she said.

Tom Milley emphasizes the approach allows his children to concentrate on improving weaker areas of study with the help of their parents at home.

“It’s not that our kids don’t do homework ... my son must have studied for an hour and a half last night with my wife because he has an upcoming science test.

“Instead of doing busy work, we were able to concentrate and make sure he knows those materials.”