 <p>the quickest way (if the strings do not change much!):</p> <p><a href="http://www.dereuromark.de/2010/06/24/static-enums-or-semihardcoded-attributes/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dereuromark.de/2010/06/24/static-enums-or-semihardcoded-attributes/</a></p> <pre><code>echo Classroom::levels($classroom['Classroom']['level']); </code></pre> <p>in the view - whereever you need it</p> <p>it also uses less resources than any other approach (therefor is the fastest).</p>