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For-Profit Writes Mandatory Courses for Phila. High Schools

Philadelphia

If all goes according to schedule, 10th graders here should be learning how to determine the area of a regular polygon in geometry class today; in world literature, they’ll be critiquing one another’s essays on a literary theme; and in biology, they’ll learn about Gregor Mendel’s contribution to genetics. Eleventh graders in Algebra 2 should be tackling how to estimate the probability of an event, while in chemistry, they’ll use bouncy balls to study when real gases deviate from the ideal-gas law. And in American literature, they’ll be exploring the power of love as a theme in The Price of a Child , a novel about the Underground Railroad by Lorene Cary.

Those courses are part of a new, standardized college-preparatory curriculum crafted by Kaplan K12 Learning Services Group, a division of Kaplan Inc., best known for its test-preparation materials. The curriculum, which made its debut in the Philadelphia district this school year, is a critical element in the district leadership’s plan to improve secondary education.

At a time when many policymakers and educators are debating how to redesign high schools, Philadelphia’s experiences could offer a window into one of the central issues: just how far to go in mandating course content...