Couple subject-area curriculum reforms with comprehensive strategies to improve attendance and academic behaviors¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Because course failures stem largely from student behaviors rather than skill alone, the brief recommends that "policymakers should consider coupling double-dose with more comprehensive strategies designed to improve attendance and other academic behaviors in all courses." Single-subject supports like double-dose are limited in their ability to affect broader outcomes, since few students fail only one class. The brief also urges examining school culture and organization to improve participation and engagement in all classes.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• District- or school-wide attention to attendance and academic behaviors across all courses, not only the targeted subject

Constraints¶

• Strategies addressing learning in only one subject area will be limited in affecting broader outcomes

Target Learners¶

• First-time ninth-grade students in urban high schools

Target Learning Goals¶

• Course passing and grades across subjects, attendance, and academic behaviors

Related Strategies¶

• Design credit-recovery interventions to address broader academic deficits and engagement, not only algebra content

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Claire Durwood, Emily Krone, and Christopher Mazzeo. (2010). Are Two Algebra Classes Better Than One? The Effects of Double-Dose Instruction in Chicago. Consortium on Chicago School Research, University of Chicago. http://ccsr.uchicago.edu/content/page.php?cat=3&content_id=34