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 at Learner-Centered Schools See Greater ELA and Math Gains
Students who started in the bottom quartile from Next Generation Learning Challenge schools demonstrated greater gains than students in a matched comparison group on the NWEA MAP English Language Arts and Math interim assessments after two years.
Competency-Based District Sees Reading and Math Gains
In the performance-based Lindsay Unified School District in California, student growth in the Smarter Balance Assessment increased by 7% in English/Language Arts and 5% in math, exceeding county and state growth in 2019.
California School Sees Math Achievement Gains
In the performance-based Lindsay Unified School District in California, students rose from 14th to 38th percentile in the state’s math assessment in 2019, when comparing all Unified School Districts in California.
California District Sees Growth on ELA Assessments
In the performance-based Lindsay Unified School District in California, students rose from 15th to 51st percentile in 2019 in the state’s English Language Arts assessment, when comparing all Unified School Districts in California.
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.
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.
Personalized Learning Results in Math and Reading Gains
Students in schools using personalized learning practices are making greater student achievement gains in math and reading over the course of two school years and students who started out behind are now catching up.
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