Review Course Taking PatternsDescription
Schools should collect and review student data to determine whether student course-taking patterns will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully complete an exhibition or graduation portfolio. This review should be done early and regularly to ensure that all students are given a fair opportunity to learn the content and skills necessary for graduation. Schools are expected to include evidence of the analysis of this course-taking pattern as part of the 2005-2006 peer review process and subsequent commissioner's review.
Things to Consider
Course enrollment patterns should be reviewed for all programs and include all students in the high school. Course taking data should be disaggregated for different student groups to ensure equity of access and opportunity.
This curriculum mapping should not be limited to high schools. Elementary and middle schools should also provide multiple opportunities for students to build toward the knowledge and skills that will eventually be required for graduation from a Rhode Island high school.
Tools
Course Enrollment Patterns for Grade 9 Students at Nippentucket Bay High School
This exercise is one way to review student access and opportunities to learn required knowledge and skills. It may be used as a model for developing a course-taking review process to assess student opportunities to learn in your school or you may choose to use it as a template for the actual process of reviewing the course-taking patterns of your students. This exercise is part of the Nippentucket Bay High School Case Study developed by the Center for Assessment. It may help to read the rest of the case study to put the course enrollment pattern review activity in context.
