It’s only been a matter of months since socialist Francois Hollande knocked conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy out of his seat to become President of France. Now, Hollande is back in the headlines with an announcement of sweeping educational change: a ban on homework.

In the minds of many this calls up an image of a ten-year-old president demanding freedom from chores and universal chocolate milk. But Hollande has thought hard about his new idea. “Work should be done at school,” he argues, “rather than at home.” Worries that children with less educated parents, or those from broken homes, have Hollande less ability to complete work at home and therefore fall behind. He wants to make the school a nurturing environment, where all students have a chance to excel. He will replace homework by adding an extra day of instruction to the four-day school week.

Hollande is on the right track with his plan. The focus on reforming education should not be international competition, but national equity. It is a paradigm we could use in America, where we constantly scramble to compete with other world powers, but neglect to provide a stable playing field where any student can advance.

But as well intentioned as it is, will it work? Studies can’t provide a straight answer. A Duke University study showed that not doing homework decreases grades, but increased instructional time can more than make up for it. A disadvantaged Maryland school district that abolished homework found their students scored better on proficiency tests but worse on state standardized tests.

Such a change could cause unforeseen problems. Will lessons be forgotten without the reinforcement of homework? Will parents be able to accommodate students’ new school day and after-school free time? How will France support the plan, which also includes hiring thousands of teachers?

Something has to be done. Whatever parts of Hollande’s plan work and don’t work, it’s important that he’s not afraid to take bold steps in order to improve his country. Why avoid an idea that might not work in favor of one that we know isn’t working?

Everyone seems to agree that the American education system doesn’t function like it should. Achievement gaps in race and class are absurdly large. But our ideas are rarely as novel or dramatic as this one. To make real changes, we must embrace uncertainty. For better or for worse, Hollande’s plan does just that.  Perhaps here in America it’s time to do the same.