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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Student-Centered Redesign Pushes Up Math Scores
Dighton District in Kansas, one of the early student-centered and future-focused redesign cohorts, saw fourth-graders reaching level four on math assessments increase from 0% to 11%. In fifth grade, they increased from 14% to 20%.
Student-Centered Approach Improves Attendance and Behavior
Across Kansas, schools early in the student-centered and future-focused redesign process are seeing dramatic improvements in attendance and behavior data, including fewer tardies, fewer suspensions and expulsions, fewer incidents of extreme behaviors and better engagement with families.
Student-Centered Redesign Empowers Kansas Teachers
In the Kansas student-centered and future-focused redesign effort, more than 90% of the nearly 2,400 school and community respondents agreed that their schools encourage and support risk-taking with new instructional strategies and that their school and district leadership empower teachers to share ownership in their redesign process.
Competency-Based School Reports Higher Graduation Rates
At the personalized competency-based Boston Day and Evening Academy for off-track youth, the percentage of male graduates of color increased from 22% to 50% in 2018.
North Carolina Students Perform Better in Math with Personalized Learning
On average, students made larger gains in math growth after taking a course from a personalized learning teacher than students who did not take a course from a personalized learning teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenberg School District in North Carolina.
Competency-Based School Helps Off-Track Youth Plan for Future
At the personalized, competency-based Boston Day and Evening Academy, 100% of students enter two or more years off-track from secondary graduation, but by the time they graduate, 98% leave with a post-secondary education plan.
Student-Centered Approaches Positively Impact Teachers
In higher education, student-centered approaches to teaching have been found to correlate with greater teacher satisfaction, less teacher burnout and positive student outcomes such as improved engagement and higher academic achievement.
Personalized Learning Bolsters Reading and Math Scores
Students participating in schools using personalized learning approaches had modest gains in reading and math scores over peers in other schools, and researchers found these benefits held for students of all ability levels.
Mastery-Based Approach Helps Students Catch Up
In the competency-based system studied, 43% – 47% of students who were behind their traditional grade levels completed their performance levels in three or fewer quarters, less time than it would take in a traditional education system.
Student Choice Has Biggest Impact
Effects of competency-based models on student learning appeared most positive in programs that put primary emphasis on student choice with project-based learning.
Nontraditional Assessments Build Intrinsic Motivation
Having access to nontraditional assessments as part of a competency-based setting was positively associated with intrinsic motivation.
Flexible Pacing Builds Self-Direction in Math
The option of extra time to finish a topic or unit and the opportunity to retake an exam or redo a final project in mathematics were associated with favorable changes in students’ self-efficacy in mathematics.
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