Honors Level Coursework

Overview & Background 

In response to the field requesting updated guidance and to address current standards and instructional best practices, the State Board of Education amended its Course for Credit policy found in CCRE-001, in July of 2023, to include a definition and a review of honors level courses every three years based on the adopted Honors Level Course Guide. The Honors Level Course Guide will better support Public School Units (PSUs) in the development, implementation, and evaluation of honors level courses. Full policy implementation of this policy was expected by December of 2025.  

What Makes an Honors Level Course Honors?

Tab/Accordion Items

  • Independent investigation  
  • Intentional differentiation 
  • Inquiry and connections 
  • Depth and complexity 
  • Collaboration 
  • Increased pace

  • Additional assessments  
  • One size fits all  
  • Longer papers 
  • Only more work

     

Importance of Honors Level Courses  

Honors level courses provide students with opportunities for enhanced rigor, depth, and complexity. Students who participate in honors level courses develop critical-thinking skills, take ownership for their learning, and become creative problem-solvers and collaborators. Data shows that approximately 84% of all high school graduates in North Carolina successfully complete at least one honors course while in high school.

Honors Level Course Guide 

This Honors Level Course Guide is intended to provide guidance for creating, implementing, and evaluating high quality honors level courses. It is recommended that personnel within each PSU who are responsible for managing and teaching honors level courses be familiar with this guide and use it as a reference for honors courses. The Honors Level Course Criteria should be used internally to develop and evaluate individual honors courses and provide feedback where needed. 

Honors Level Course Guide 

Honors Level Course Development and Evaluation Tool

The Honors Level Course Development and Implementation Tool has been developed for use at the district and school level. Teachers and designated instructional leaders within each PSU should work collaboratively to ensure the requirements within the Honors Level Course Development and Implementation Tool are consistently, equitably, and fairly upheld for each honors level course. 

WEBSITE RESOURCES UPDATE

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