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Sandy » Jennifer Santoro sees homework as only a math teacher would.

Students have little incentive to do it, because it accounts for just 10 percent of their final grade, she says. But all those zeroes for missed assignments add up. Remove them from Santoro's gradebook and watch her class average climb.

And that's exactly what is happening at Eastmont Middle School under a new program, "Zero's Aren't Permitted" or ZAP.

When Eastmont students don't turn in their homework, they aren't flunked. Instead, they're "zapped" and issued a green ticket to study hall where they spend their lunch hour completing their homework under the supervision of counselors.

They eat too. In fact, the ticket gets them to the front of the lunch line.

And while the program has it's downsides -- ninth grader Mason Cook called it "demeaning," noting "lunch hour is the only time we get to relax" -- principal Janice Sterzer believes it's working.

Last year, about 5.5 percent of Eastmont's students were failing. So far this year, only 2 percent are getting F's. In addition, more students are making the honor roll.

But more importantly, students are internalizing higher expectations and taking responsibility for their learning as evidenced by the waning number of ZAP tickets issued, said Sterzer. "It's changing how students see themselves. If you were a student who always got D's, imagine what it's like to be suddenly getting B's or A's."

Sterzer has been experimenting with all sorts of tutorials, and underperforming students aren't her sole focus.

At Eastmont, ZAP is paired with other enrichments for so-called "average" students and high achievers.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, students break from their normal routines for 30 minutes of "Patriot Time."

Most head for study hall to get a jump on tomorrow's homework. Some are assigned to "concept mastery" tutorials where they get one-on-one instruction in a concept that eludes them. Others go to open tutorials to take a missed exam or for extra help in science and math. And advanced learners are treated to a "stretch" activity: a taste of something new like debate, hip hop dance, yoga and video editing.

Designing and scheduling these pull-out classes "is demanding," said Santoro, who on Tuesday taught a tutorial on monomials.

But Santoro said it frees her up to help those few struggling learners without sidelining the rest of class.

"In math, if they don't do their homework every day, they fall behind and it's hard to catch up," said Santoro. "I have kids now asking me for tutorials."

The tutorials are a form of individualized instruction, which is hard to come by in a state with the nation's highest student-teacher ratio.

"It has changed the culture as students see, 'Teachers care enough about me to give me extra time and attention,' " said Sterzer.

And it's changing parents' perceptions of homework, said Mike Sirois, director of secondary schools for Canyons School District. "We need to do a better job as a district of getting rid of busy work. These tutorials are based on the premise that if a teacher gives an assignment, it's important and that we're going to hold students accountable."

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