It may not be out for summer just yet, but for students at Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary school is out once the final bell rings.
Earlier this year the school in Montreal-West adopted a new policy that aims to give all children the required time to finish their work in class. To the kids at the school it's known as a homework ban.
"No homework? That's every kids dream" student Nicole Walsh told CTV Montreal.
Elizabeth Ballantyne principal Michael Brown said the concept behind the change was simple, let kids be kids.
"We want students to be at home being with their families, being with their friends, playing and being children," he said. "Not spending six hours at work and then going home and working for two more hours."
The school is now following examples set by many others, including École primaire Collège Saint-Ambroise in the Saguenay, which banned homework four years ago. Officials there say the decision has not affected students' grades.
McGill University professor Steven Shaw said there is research that shows letting kids be kids is a good thing.
"We find this a major reason we have fights between parents and children is over homework," Shaw said. "So it creates that problem and there's not a lot of evidence that it does anything positive."
Not everyone agrees that eliminating homework is the best solution. Steven Erdelyi, head of Solomon Schechter Academy in Montreal, points out homework has other benefits.
"Those study skills, those work habits (that) they develop by doing their homework will help them succeed throughout their lives," Erdelyi said.
While the students at Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary will enjoy the extra time to be themselves, they still need to put in the effort. The no homework policy only applies if a student finishes their work in class, giving them a good reason to pay attention and work hard before the final bell rings.