Adopt automatic enrollment and open enrollment policies for advanced courses to expand equitable access¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The brief recommends that states and districts adopt policies whereby students identified for advanced coursework through multiple measures are automatically enrolled unless their families opt them out, and adopt open enrollment so any interested student can take an advanced class. It cites North Carolina's automatic enrollment policy, under which "92% of North Carolina students in grades 6 and above who scored at the highest level on their end-of-grade math test were placed in an advanced math course" in 2022-23.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Identification of students for advanced coursework through multiple measures
• An opt-out mechanism for families

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• K-12 students, particularly Black, Latino, and low-income students underrepresented in advanced coursework

Target Learning Goals¶

• Equitable access to advanced coursework in elementary, middle, and high school

Related Strategies¶

• Adopt automatic-enrollment policies that default students into higher-level math based on prior achievement or demonstrated proficiency
• Automatically enroll high-performing sixth graders in advanced math, with parent opt-out, to circumvent educator bias in referral
• State policy package to expand equitable access to advanced coursework: credit transparency, automatic enrollment with opt-out, fee removal, disaggregated data reporting, and belonging supports
• Adopt automatic (opt-out) enrollment policies placing qualifying students in advanced coursework
• Automatic enrollment into advanced coursework with an opt-out option
• Support struggling advanced-course students with expanded learning time and intensive tutoring

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Kristen Hengtgen, Hector Biaggi. (2023). Increasing Access to Advanced Coursework in Kentucky. EdTrust. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED641971