Summary
This report explores how district, school, and independent school administrators design advanced course limits to reduce student workloads and improve school climate. The report first describes how profiled institutions structure, design, and assess advanced course limits. The report then suggests strategies to communicate potential limits to parents, students, teachers, and admissions officers. Lastly, the report explores complementary stress-reduction initiatives (e.g., homework limits).
Key observations from our research Profiled institutions implement two distinct models of advanced course limits: strict limits and recommended limits. Though profiled institutions have not yet collected relevant data, contacts at profiled institutions report anecdotally that strict AP course limits reduce student stress. Admissions officers suggest that administrators allow exceptions to strict advanced course limits only in rare, defined circumstances. Use campus climate surveys to assess AP course limit impact on student stress and track college admissions to ensure limits do not impact student postsecondary outcomes.