Building a bold, future-focused, learner-centered vision of education

Center for Policy

Creating and advancing student-centered policies at the state and federal level.

CompetencyWorks

Sharing best practices, building knowledge, and conducting research and evaluation around K-12 personalized, competency-based education.

Connecting and Convening

Hosting convenings, including our annual Symposium, and connecting stakeholders in the future-focused education space.

Resources to Drive Action

Our resources guide practitioners, educators, policymakers, and advocates seeking to shift from our current state of education to a future state in which all students are prepared to succeed. Use this section to search for published reports, briefs, webinars, and other learning resources on key topics related to policy and practice for next generation learning.

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COVID-19 Resources

Report

July 26, 2023

Expanding Student Access to Work-Based Learning: Federal Policy Recommendations

Susan Patrick, Khamiah Alderman, Laurie Gagnon

Report

June 26, 2023

Going Beyond the Traditional: Next Gen Credentials and Flexible Learning Pathways

Susan Patrick, Laurie Gagnon, Alyssa Weaver

Issue Brief

January 20, 2023

Next Generation Accountability: Creating Performance Frameworks for Student Success

Susan Patrick

Our Impact

Through Aurora Institute’s work, school leaders, educators, students, and communities are moving the needle to ensure every learner is prepared to be tomorrow’s leader.

See Our Impact

450+

BOOKS, REPORTS, ISSUE BRIEFS, AND WEBINARS PRODUCED ON STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING

180

SCHOOLS DISTRICTS SERVED

800

SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED RESOURCES AND COUNSEL ON INNOVATIVE POLICY AND PRACTICE

Upcoming Events & Webinars

All Events & Webinars

October 15, 2023

Aurora Institute Symposium 2023

We Are Now the Aurora Institute.

After 17 years of driving educational change under the names NACOL and iNACOL, the time has come to create a forward-reaching identity that reflects all of who we are and all of what we do.

Aurora Institute - Homepage

New Federal Policy Recommendations from the Aurora Institute on Work-Based Learning

Registration is Open - Aurora Institute Symposium 2023

Transforming Education Systems

The Aurora Institute is lifting up new ideas to shift mental models on public education. We’re drawing from the latest developments in education systems change nationally and globally to transform K-12 education in the United States.

Washington State's Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative Report

Aurora’s evaluation report on Washington’s Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative is now available. We hope that lessons learned from the network’s 24 schools statewide will help you advance your local & state transformation efforts.