Issue/Policy Brief

Competency-Based Education: Staying Shallow or Going Deep?

In order to be successful in the 21st century, students will need to master an expanded set of competencies that extends beyond discrete academic standards. Competency-based education (CBE) is an educational approach that focuses on mastery of these competencies – rather than seat time – as a measure of student learning.  This approach is being adopted by a growing number of educators focused on ensuring students graduate college and career ready.

Aligning K–12 and Postsecondary Career Pathways with Workforce Needs

This brief from the Education Commission of the States examines the policymaking activity of 13 states concerning two core areas: (1) how these states are establishing processes for educators and employers to use workforce data to set goals that align with high school and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs; and (2) how these states are developing strategies that scale up career pathways in a way that connects K–12 education to postsecondary CTE initiatives.  

 

Fostering School Success with Standards for Nonacademic Skills

Growing evidence highlights the importance of teaching social and emotional skills alongside academic skills for students’ success throughout their education and beyond. Although social and emotional skills are frequently tied to early education standards, they are often left out of the standards for elementary, middle, and high school. As a result, many states have encountered roadblocks in aligning early learning standards with those for K–12.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Issue/Policy Brief