This monthly newsletter shares the latest CompetencyWorks blog posts and Aurora Institute publications—providing thought leadership and practical lessons learned from the field to support transformation toward personalized, competency-based K-12 schools and systems. The Evolution of Competency-Based Transformation in Northern Cass A CompetencyWorks series about the Northern Cass School District in North Dakota begins by describing the evolution of their competency-based transformation, including developing a shared purpose and a phased transition. Read Article Framing Habits of Work and Capstone Skills in Northern Cass During the current school year, Northern Cass has refined their approach to defining and assessing personal success skills. These include engagement, collaboration, and several others that are tied to their Portrait of a Graduate. Read Article Transitioning to Standards-Based Grading The final Northern Cass post describes their multi-year transition to standards-based grading, including the high school’s approach to handling students with grades in both the old and new systems. Read Article Reinventing Crediting and Transcripts Part 2 - Considerations for Making Change This follow-up post offers six key strategies for schools and districts seeking to transform their transcripts. Part 2 Reinventing Crediting and Transcripts Part 1 - Learning From Experience Guest blogger Jonathan Martin writes about his recent book, Reinventing Crediting for Competency-Based Education: The Mastery Transcript Consortium Model and Beyond. This blog post shares case examples of three systems that have developed alternative crediting and transcripts.  Part 1 Designing Equitable and Culturally Responsive Learning Spaces Karla Vigil and Emily Abedon of the Equity Institute share valuable tools and perspectives to build equitable and culturally responsive learning spaces, based on their workshop at the recent Aurora Institute Symposium. Read Article How Systems of Assessments Aligned with Competency-Based Education Can Support Equity In January the Aurora Institute and the Center for Assessment released How Systems of Assessments Aligned with Competency-Based Education Can Support Equity. The report offers guidance for designing balanced assessment systems to support competency-based education’s equity goals. Download About CompetencyWorks CompetencyWorks is an initiative that provides information and knowledge about competency-based education in the K-12 education system. Drawing on lessons learned by innovators and early adopters, CompetencyWorks is an online resource for sharing knowledge, original research and policy advances, and a variety of field perspectives. CompetencyWorks provides an informative blog with practitioner knowledge on key topics and papers on emerging issues, with resources curated from across the field of K-12 competency-based education. Contact: Eliot Levine [email protected] CompetencyWorks   |  Aurora Institute