CUSD 200 outlines expansion of college, career pathways and new career-connected learning framework

Melissa Murphy, district staff who led the presentation on college and career readiness, told the CUSD 200 Committee of the Whole on April 23 that the district has expanded advanced-course options and is building career pathways tied to work-based learning and a new career-connected learning framework.

The district framed college readiness as both entry into credit-bearing postsecondary courses and persistence; it uses Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) proficiency metrics for ELA and math and an "advanced coursework" dashboard metric that tracks AP and dual-credit enrollment and success. "So far this is, our high school teams are talking about this being a success," Murphy said of the district's initial semester of results under the state's Accelerated Placement guidance.

Murphy said the district has added AP and dual-credit courses for next year and that the Accelerated Placement policy—under which students who "met or exceeded" state benchmarks can be automatically enrolled in the next-most-rigorous course—has increased access to higher-level courses, including among Black and Hispanic students. She said families can opt a student out and that some scheduling…