After establishing Expectations for Student Learning, a school should review its program of studies to ensure that the quantity and quality of courses available provide every student with the opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills that have been identified as desired learner outcomes. For schools that have chosen exhibitions and/or graduation portfolio as methods of demonstrating proficiency, the content knowledge and applied learning skills students need to successfully complete these requirements must be specifically identified. In order to ensure the fairness of a high stakes decision, it is important that students have sufficient opportunities to learn the overarching skills that are being assessed. Accordingly, a school must identify each course that will explicitly teach and assess the knowledge and skills outlined in its expectations. This process is called curriculum mapping.

During curriculum mapping, course syllabi and/or contents should be reviewed to ensure that the knowledge and skills required for exhibitions and/or portfolios are being addressed across the curriculum. Student course taking practices and individual student schedules must also be reviewed to ensure that each and every student will have multiple opportunities to learn and practice these skills.

Mapping curricula to standards is important; all schools - including elementary and middle schools - should provide curricula and instructional experiences over multiple years to develop knowledge and skills assessed during an Exhibition or through a Graduation portfolio. Beyond mere instruction, schools should also provide students with feedback as they progress toward the desired level of performance.