Performance Assessments: How State Policy Can Advance Assessments for 21st Century Learning
This report is intended to familiarize state boards of education with performance assessments and help state board members and other policymakers address some of the thorniest issues around these assessments: purpose, sustainability, reliability, accountability, policy alignment, equity, professional practice, and implementation. The report ends with a set of discussion questions so that each state can… Read More ›
Accountability for College and Career Readiness Developing a New Paradigm
This report—due to preparation for new standards under the Common Core and states moving toward creating more aligned systems of assessment and accountability—recommends an accountability approach that focuses on meaningful learning, enabled by professionally skilled and committed educators, and supported by adequate and appropriate resources, so that all students regardless of background are prepared for… Read More ›
Measuring What Really Matters
This article proposes the improvement of state accountability systems through the use of performance assessments. They conclude that unlike multiple choice tests, performance assessments can thoroughly asses the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards which require demonstration of more complex thinking and reasoning skills. The authors also explore the technical quality, practical,… Read More ›
Necessary for Success: Building Mastery of World-Class Skills – A State Policymakers Guide to Competency Education
This report by Susan Patrick and Chris Sturgis describes competency-based systems and reforms in districts and schools from Maine to Florida, and makes suggestions for education leaders around changing policy, fostering progressive public discourse, and supporting teachers. Source Organization: Nellie Mae Education Foundation Visit the Resource
An International Study in Competency Education: Postcards from Abroad
This report by Susan Patrick and Sara Frank Bristow highlights components of competency education in international practice, to inform U.S. policymakers and decision makers seeking to implement high-quality competency pathways at the state or local level. The report includes a brief lesson in the international vocabulary of competency education and explores practices in Finland, British Columbia… Read More ›
A K-12 Federal Policy Framework for Competency Education: Building Capacity for Systems Change
This report provides federal policymakers with a comprehensive vision for supporting state and local efforts to implement student-centered learning. The authors describe barriers and opportunities within federal education policy education policy frameworks, and identifies how the federal government is in a unique position to catalyze and scale student-centered learning. Source Organization: Nellie Mae Education Foundation Visit… Read More ›
Education Indicators for Maine 2015
In this report from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Educate Maine examines 10 indicators around education access, achievement, and participation for Maine students. Beyond promoting discussion, this paper serves as a call to action for increasing engagement, positive dialogue, and support for promising strategies amongst stakeholders so all Maine’s students receive the education they deserve.… Read More ›
Massachusetts’ Plan for Excellence in STEM Education 2.0: Expanding the Pipeline for All
This plan, published in 2013 by Massachusetts’ Governor Deval Patrick’s STEM Advisory Council builds on the first strategic plan written in 2010 to establish infrastructure and build support for STEM education in Massachusetts. This plan lays out five goals, including increasing interest in STEM, student achievement, number of skilled k-16 STEM educators, and percentage of STEM… Read More ›
Learning While Working: Building 21st Century Competency-Based Apprenticeships
This framework document outlines a set of key steps the National Network of Business and Industry Associations (the National Network) developed to help employers develop competency-based apprenticeships. The approach is applicable across multiple industry sectors and at companies of any size. The National Network launched in late 2013 with the mission to improve economic opportunity and quality of… Read More ›
Developing Excellent School Principals to Advance Teaching and Learning: Considerations for State Policy
This report emphasizes that every state faces a unique blend of educational, political, and financial circumstances and that, therefore, each state’s approach should fit its needs and particularities. “There is not a cookbook recipe for policy development or implementation that will work equally well in all states,” it says. “State and local adaptations will be… Read More ›
Continuous Improvement in Education
This white paper by Sandra Park, Penny Carver, Lee Nordstrum, and Stephanie Hironaka, provides examples that illustrate how continuous quality improvement methodology is being applied in education toward the goals of making education more efficient, effective, and equitable. The examples are organized in three broad categories: at the level of classroom instruction, system-wide, and improvement efforts with collective… Read More ›
A State Policy Framework for Scaling Personalized Learning
This report identifies strategies to support scaling personalized learning for districts. Developed by KnowledgeWorks, the report focuses on curriculum, assessment, learning environments, partnerships, and more as recommendations for successful scaling efforts. Source Organization: KnowledgeWorks Visit the Resource