What’s New in K-12 Competency Education?

A documentary titled “Most Likely to Succeed is premiering at the 2015 Sundance Festival. This trailer discusses grades, and this short video clip highlights students creating innovative projects and authentic assessments. Chris Sturgis provides commentary on this documentary in this blog post.

News

• This article provides an overview of the information management tool called Slate, which provides data-driven support to teachers, powering them with the information to provide immediate supports to students in real-time.
• Most conversations in the education sphere revolve around ensuring students are ready for college and career. This article flips the conversation and asks if our colleges are student-ready.
• In Pittsburgh, digital badges find their niche through a community effort made possible through the support of Pittsburgh City of Learning. Five thousand learners streamed into 100 (mostly free) summer programs, including digital media programs, drop-in maker spaces, and paid internships, recording their work through badging.
• California’s Lindsay Unified School District has eliminated grades and grade levels. This article provides an overview of Lindsay’s design, discusses the transition for stakeholders, and explores the changing grading system.

Movement in the States

• Idaho is moving away from seat time and towards a mastery-based system through HB 110, which was signed into law on March 19, 2015 by Governor Otter, and the law took effect on July 1.
• Ohio began the piloting process for competency education, made possible through HB 64, which allows five selected applicants to plan and implement competency-based programs during the pilot’s duration (2015-16 through 2018-19 school years).
• This Op/Ed article by David Kelley provides a wonderful overview of the history of Vermont K-12 education, including bold initiatives toward revolutionary change through personalized learning plans and proficiency-based learning.
• Nebraska’s State Board of Education started a new study committee on competency education. The first task assigned to the Board is to define competency-based education.
• Connecticut passed legislation five years ago in an effort to boost high school graduation requirements, including higher standards in mathematics, science and foreign language, among others. Implementation has been delayed due to funding issues, and some say the legislation is now outdated because more credits does not equate to higher standards.

Helpful Resources

• This report, First Ask, Then Listen: How to Get Your Students to Help You Teach Them Better, is a teacher guide which supports educators who are trying to learn how to build student agency, voice and choice.
• Jobs for the Future released a new report titled Deeper Learning for Students with Disabilities, which discusses the implications of a new requirement, designed to ensure educators implement effective instructional strategies to provide deeper learning to all students, with and without disabilities.
• The FrameWorks Institute released a report titled Weaving Skill Ropes: Using Metaphor to Enhance Understanding of Skills and Learning, in March 2013. This short video provides an overview of the report and explains how we can tie together social-emotional, cognitive, and process skills.