Making the Case: Compelling Data
This growing library features data points describing the impacts and outcomes of student-centered and competency-based teaching and learning. The data are sourced from research studies, evaluation reports and journal articles, as well as evidence collected directly by classroom, school, district and state leaders.
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Students with Disabilities Thrive with Personalization in Atlanta
Tapestry Public Charter School, catering mainly to students with IEPs and/or 504 plans, achieved a 100% graduation rate for students with disabilities in 2020-2021, despite pandemic challenges. In 2018-2019, 90% of such students graduated, compared to 46.4% in the district, and in 2019-20, it was 80% compared to 54.6%.
California Charters Decrease Disparities in Academic Growth
A study of charter schools identified Envision Schools, a network of three CA schools committed to performance assessment, as “busting the gap.” Average student achievement exceeds state averages overall. Black, Hispanic, English language learners and students in poverty show yearly growth the same or stronger than peers at the same school.
Personalized Apprentice Opportunities Build Engagement
Many students, especially those underrepresented in skilled trades, have pursued further learning in interest areas developed through apprenticeships provided by Harbor Freight Fellowship Initiative, a Big Picture Learning partner. In its first three years, 89 of 93 students completed the program and 40 pursued more training in their chosen trade.
Differentiated Learning at California Microschool Boosts Growth
Students at UP Academy, a K-8 private microschool in California offering differentiated learning, interdisciplinary project-based learning and collaboration in multi-age classrooms with full inclusion, showed more than double the growth in reading and math scores over a four-month period, compared to national averages on the NWEA 2021 tests.
Whole-Child Approach Builds Social-Emotional Learning Skills
In NYC, DREAM Charter Schools' whole-child approach of balancing social emotional development, athletics/wellness, and rigorous academics results in two-thirds of K-12 students increasing social-emotional competencies over the course of one school year.
Summer Sports and Academics Lead to Big Gains
DREAM Charter Schools, a small network of schools in NYC balancing social emotional development, athletics/wellness and rigorous academics during a year-long program, has seen reading proficiency increase an average of 20 percentage points and math 10 percentage points during their summer program.
Personalized Charters Get Results in St. Louis
In only its 4th year of operation, Kairos, a small network of St. Louis public charter schools supporting personalized learning and student agency, was the fourth highest performing local education agency in St. Louis. Of other top performers, it was the only one serving more that 50% students receiving free and reduced lunch.
Under-credited Youth in Boston Graduate with Personalized Approach
Students at Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA) – a personalized, competency-based school for over-age and under-credited youth – enter at an average age of 17.6 with 5 or fewer high school credits. Despite previous setbacks, students who attend BDEA at least half of the time, finish an average of 5 courses per year and graduate in 2.9 years.
CT School Increases Latinx Student Enrollment in AP Through Personalized Supports
Maloney High School saw the number of Latinx students enrolled in advanced courses rise from 50% in 2015-16 to 82.5% in 2020-21. To make this shift, they employed student-centered approaches – including student interest surveys, personalized course recommendations, more communication with families and academic supports like AP study sessions.
Personalized Alternative Program Drives Graduation Gains in MA District
Holyoke Public Schools reduced dropouts and increased graduation from 62% in 2015 to 72% in 2019, with larger jumps for English Language Learners, students with disabilities and Latinx students. Gains were driven by a successful alternative program offering a variety of personalized programs including mastery and project-based learning options.
Most DC Black Female Students Passing AP from One Student-centered Tech School
A study of a middle school project-based science curriculum showed on average students performed higher than a matched comparison group on state math assessments by 12 percentage points in Year 2 and 18 percentage points in Year 3 and on the ELA assessment by 8 percentage points in Year 2 and 10 in Year 3.
Student-Centered Approach in DC Serves Students Underrepresented in the Sciences
90% of the Black students who passed the 2019 Advanced Placement computer science exam in the entire city of Washington DC attended Washington Leadership Academy, a school using student-centered practices to support students traditionally underrepresented in the sciences (20 out of 22 students).
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