9-12

This report details and expands upon the key recommendations from the 2010 Innovate to Educate Symposium, held by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) in collaboration with ASCD and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The ten recommendations consist of five "essential elements" for personalized learning, as well as five "policy enablers" which would serve to support the development of those essential elements.

This brief discusses competency education from classroom practice to assessment and accountability. KnowledgeWorks suggests that competency-based learning is critical to the achievement of college and career readiness and success among high school students.

This brief uses a model by Jobs for the Future to discuss strategies to get learners on-track to effective educational pathways. The “Back on Track Through College” model indicates three overarching pathway benchmarks: Enriched Preparation, Postsecondary Bridging, and First Year Support. Using these points of entry to organize recommendations, this brief suggests using technology as a tool at all stages so that schools, youth programs, colleges and other organizations may leverage it for off-track students.

This report provides a model for competency-based programming aligned to rigorous standards--specifically targeted at off-track youth. The brief outlines the process of developing competencies for struggling students while adhering to the Common Core State Standards and producing college-ready graduates. To contextualize these steps, the report refers to the example of the Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA). Tools and resources are integrated throughout the brief to provide a glossary of terms and thorough explanations of key concepts to assist practitioners with the material.

The recent emergence of geen jobs supporting environmental sustainability across a broad range of industries is creating employment opportunities and new career pathways. This report discusses how green jobs may provide options for low-income youth to overcome poverty. In doing so, it offers guidance to youth programs on how to connect disadvantaged youth to the educational and professional development opportunities necessary for a green career.