Focus Areas

Course access

Course access means a broad course of study in required subject areas is offered for all students. Those subject areas include English language arts, math, social science, science, visual and performing arts, health, physical education, career and technical education and others, regardless of what school students attend or where they live.

ACCESS COVERS ALL SCHOOLS

When schools provide wide access to the full breadth of the curriculum, students receive a more complete learning experience, are more likely to graduate, and are better prepared for higher education, employment and their roles and responsibilities as adults later in life.

In 2017, the state began developing guidelines for district reporting on course access.

Some ways schools and districts can measure course access include:

  • The number of students who have access to and are enrolled in a broad course of study that includes core subject areas
  • Any differences in access and enrollment in a broad course of study for students with greater needs such as low-income students, English Language Learners and foster youth
  • Any differences in access or enrollment among school sites
  • The broad and equal availability of arts, science, career technical education and similar courses for students at all grade levels.

Download and share our flier on Course Access.

ENGLISH SPANISH

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK ABOUT ACCESS

  • coursesWhat classes are currently being offered to our students? Do we provide a broad course of study to all students to ensure student success?
  • How well are students across all student groups doing in general and in the core academic subjects? Do we offer multilingual academic support for our students?
  • How will we know if the school district is meeting the goal of all students taking a full range of courses? What kind of measurements would make sense? Are there other forms of measurement we can try?
  • What courses are available to better prepare students for 21st-century careers and for the roles and responsibilities of civic engagement? How do we partner with local colleges and universities as well as other community partners to provide pathways for students?
  • What strategies do we have in place to inform and engage parents in course selection, career pathways and college planning for their student? Do parents have regular opportunities to discuss what their child is learning with teachers and how they can best support student learning at home?

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT COURSE ACCESS

  • “I’ve been in jazz and dance classes since the third grade. My mom and dad made sure my brother, my sister and I were all in arts and music because it helps us in other classes, connects us with our culture and unites our family.”
  • “I like helping my students conquer the critical areas of math because it was algebra that influenced me
    to go into engineering.”
  • “As a parent, I would like my child to benefit from an enriched curriculum where she can do some things hands-on because that’s the way my child learns best.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Find out how your district is meeting this state priority.