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Teaching and Learning Domain - Entities, References, and Descriptors

Teaching and Learning Model Entities​

NameDescription
CourseThis educational entity represents the organization of subject matter and related learning experiences provided for the instruction of students on a regular or systematic basis.
CourseOfferingThis entity represents an entry in the course catalog of available courses offered by the school during a session.
LocationThis entity represents the physical space where students gather for a particular class/section. The Location may be an indoor or outdoor area designated for the purpose of meeting the educational needs of students.
SectionThis entity represents a setting in which organized instruction of course content is provided, in-person or otherwise, to one or more students for a given period of time. A course offering may be offered to more than one section.
StaffSectionAssociationThis association indicates the class sections to which a staff member is assigned.
StudentSectionAssociationThis association indicates the course sections to which a student is assigned.

Extended References​

NameDescription
ClassPeriodThis entity represents the designation of a regularly scheduled series of class meetings at designated times and days of the week.
EducationOrganizationThis entity represents any public or private institution, organization, or agency that provides instructional or support services to students or staff at any level.
LearningStandardThis entity is a sub-element of a learning objective consisting of a precise statement of the expectation of a student's proficiency.
ProgramThis entity represents any program designed to work in conjunction with, or as a supplement to, the main academic program. Programs may provide instruction, training, services, or benefits through federal, state, or local agencies. Programs may also include organized extracurricular activities for students.
SchoolThis entity represents an educational organization that includes staff and students who participate in classes and educational activity groups.
SessionA term in the school year, generally a unit of time into which courses are scheduled, instruction occurs and by which credits are awarded. Sessions may be interrupted by vacations or other events.
StaffThis entity represents an individual who performs specified activities for any public or private education institution or agency that provides instructional and/or support services to students or staff at the early childhood level through high school completion. For example, this includes:
1. An "employee" who performs services under the direction of the employing institution or agency is compensated for such services by the employer and is eligible for employee benefits and wage or salary tax withholdings
2. A "contractor" or "consultant" who performs services for an agreed upon fee or an employee of a management service contracted to work on site
3. A "volunteer" who performs services on a voluntary and uncompensated basis
4. An in-kind service provider
5. An independent contractor or businessperson working at a school site.
StaffProgramAssociationThis association indicates the Staff associated with a program.
StaffSchoolAssociationThis association indicates the School(s) to which a staff member provides instructional services.
StudentThis entity represents an individual for whom instruction, services, and/or care are provided in an early childhood, elementary, or secondary educational program under the jurisdiction of a school, education agency or other institution or program. A student is a person who has been enrolled in a school or other educational institution.
StudentProgramAssociationThis association represents the Program(s) that a student participates in or is served by.
StudentSchoolAssociationThis association represents the School in which a student is enrolled. The semantics of enrollment may differ slightly by state. Non-enrollment relationships between a student and an education organization may be described using the StudentEducationOrganizationAssociation.

Teaching and Learning Domain Descriptors​

EntityNameDescriptionUsage ClassificationEDFacts MappingCommonly UsedCommonly State-Defined
CourseAcademicSubjectThe intended major subject area of the course.Local
CareerPathwayIndicates the career cluster or pathway the course is associated with as part of a CTE curriculum.Flexible
CompetencyLevelThe competency levels defined to rate the student for the course.Flexible
CourseDefinedBySpecifies whether the course was defined by the SEA, LEA, School, or national organization.Orthodox
CourseGPAApplicabilityAn indicator of whether or not the course being described is included in the computation of the student's Grade Point Average, and if so, if it is weighted differently from regular courses.Orthodox
CourseIdentificationSystemA system that is used to identify the organization of subject matter and related learning experiences provided for the instruction of students.Orthodox
CourseLevelCharacteristicThe type of specific program or designation with which the course is associated (e.g., AP, IB, Dual Credit, CTE).Orthodox
CreditTypeThe type of credits or units of value awarded for the completion of a course.Flexible
OfferedGradeLevelThe grade levels in which the course is offered.Orthodox
CourseOfferingCourseLevelCharacteristicThe type of specific program or designation with which the course offering is associated (e.g., AP, IB, Dual Credit, CTE). This collection should only be populated if it differs from the Course Level Characteristics identified at the Course level.Orthodox
CurriculumUsedThe type of curriculum used in an early learning classroom or group.Orthodox
OfferedGradeLevelThe grade levels in which the course is offered. This collection should only be populated if it differs from the Offered Grade Levels identified at the Course level.Orthodox
SectionCourseLevelCharacteristicThe type of specific program or designation with which the section is associated (e.g., AP, IB, Dual Credit, CTE). This collection should only be populated if it differs from the Course Level Characteristics identified at the Course Offering level.Orthodox
CreditTypeThe type of credits or units of value awarded for the completion of a course.Flexible
EducationalEnvironmentThe setting in which a child receives education and related services; for example: Center-based instruction, Home based instruction, Hospital class, Mainstream, Residential care and treatment facility...Orthodox
InstructionLanguageThe primary language of instruction, if omitted English is assumed.Orthodox
OfferedGradeLevelThe grade levels in which the section is offered. This collection should only be populated if it differs from the Offered Grade Levels identified at the Course Offering level.Orthodox
MediumOfInstructionThe media through which teachers provide instruction to students and students and teachers communicate about instructional matters; for example: Technology-based instruction in classroom, Correspondence instruction, Face-to-face instruction, Virtual/On-line Distance learning, Center-based instruction...Orthodox
PopulationServedThe type of students the Section is offered and tailored to; for example: Bilingual students, Remedial education students, Gifted and talented students, Career and Technical Education students, Special education students...Orthodox
SectionCharacteristicReflects important characteristics of the Section, such as whether or not attendance is taken and the Section is graded.Local
SectionTypeSpecifies whether the section is for attendance only, credit only, or bothFlexible
StaffSectionAssociationClassroomPositionThe type of position the Staff member holds in the specific class/section; for example: Teacher of Record, Assistant Teacher, Support Teacher, Substitute Teacher...Orthodox
StudentSectionAssociationAttemptStatusAn indication of the student's completion status for the section.Orthodox
RepeatIdentifierAn indication as to whether a student has previously taken a given course. Repeated, counted in grade point average, Repeated, not counted in grade point average, Not repeated, Other.Orthodox
StudentSchoolAssociationEnrollmentTypeThe type of enrollment reflected by the StudentSchoolAssociation
NextYearGradlevelThe anticipated grade level for the student for the next school year
SchoolChoiceBasisThe legal basis for the school choice enrollment according to local, state or federal policy or regulation.
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See Non-normative Descriptor Classifications for more information on Usage Classification.