Introduction to SCED
School Courses for the Exchange of Data (SCED) is a voluntary, common classification system for prior-to-secondary and secondary school courses. It can be used to compare course information, maintain longitudinal data about student coursework, and efficiently exchange course-taking records. SCED is based on a five-digit Course Code that provides a basic structure for classifying course content. Additional SCED elements and attributes provide descriptive information about each course.
SCED is updated and maintained by a working group of federal, state and local education agency representatives who receive suggestions and assistance from a wide network of subject matter experts at the national, state, and local levels. As a result, SCED is designed to be flexible enough that education agencies can modify it to meet their needs.
To suggest updates to SCED, email us at Contact.IES@ed.gov.
Forum Guide to Understanding the School Courses for the Exchange of Data (SCED) Classification System
The Forum Guide to Understanding the School Courses for the Exchange of Data (SCED) Classification System offers a comprehensive overview of the voluntary, common SCED classification system. SCED was developed to meet the need among local, state, and federal agencies for widely understood, standardized prior-to-secondary and secondary school course codes. The guide provides information on the development process, code structure, and element descriptions. Additionally, it offers best practices for SCED implementation and use. A companion publication, SCED Uses and Benefits, highlights user benefits and features case studies to illustrate SCED use.
Current SCED File
This file includes the following:
- A comprehensive list of all five-digit SCED Course Codes included in SCED Version 13.0. This list includes the Course Title, SCED Course Code, Course Description, and Change Status.
- A list of SCED Version 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, and 12.0. Course Codes that have been archived, as well as suggested alternative Course Codes.
- Names and definitions of the SCED Elements that make up the 12–character SCED Identifier and optional attributes that can be applied to the Identifier to provide a more robust description of courses.
- A list of SCED Course Codes commonly included in one of the 16 Career Clusters® or as part of a Family and Consumer Sciences plan of study. This spreadsheet is an example of how the Career Cluster attribute and the Family and Consumer Sciences Indicator can be used to identify courses from different Course Subject Areas that are part of a plan of study.
Previous SCED Versions
Master List
This downloadable, sortable file contains a list of every SCED Course Code published in every version of SCED. It begins with Version 1, which includes the original 2007 secondary SCED and the 2011 prior-to-secondary SCED, and continues through versions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. This master list is intended to assist state and local education agencies with implementing or updating SCED.
FAQ
This supplementary resource updates and expands upon the frequently asked questions included in the Forum Guide to SCED.
Case Studies
Case Studies provide examples of best practices for SCED implementation and use in education agencies.