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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Denver Policy Reform Leads to Academic Gains
A study of Denver's reform strategy from 2008-2019, shows the move to a portfolio model of governance resulted in student gains. Before reforms, the district ranked in the bottom 5th percentile of Colorado districts on standardized state assessments in ELA and math. In 2019 performance rose to 60th and 63rd percentile in ELA and math, respectively.
Dual Enrollment Increases College Attendance for CTE
In an Arkansas study, students taking Career and Technical Education courses in a specific career area saw a larger positive impact if they were also in a dual enrollment program. The impact of taking one more CTE course than the state average on future college enrollment went up by a factor of two for these students, from .4% to 1%.
Denver Policy Reform Results in Higher Graduation
A study of the impact of Denver's reform strategy, moving to a portfolio model of governance prioritizing school-level autonomy, showed improved graduation rates. Over 11 years, four-year graduation rates rose from 43% to 71%. Had reforms not occurred, predicted rates for 2019 were below 60%.
Most Students Feel Little Control Over Their Learning
A broad array of learning communities surveyed over 20,000 students about their experiences and found most do not feel they have control over their education. Only 29% reported feeling they have a say in what happens to them at school and only 31% said they can choose how they do their work.
Educators Report More Use of Formative Assessments
Results of a 2022 national survey of educators showed, though summative assessments increased from 2021, teachers are adopting a more balanced approach to assessment. 81% of surveyed teachers used formative assessments in 2022, a 5% increase from 2021, and 78% used benchmark/interim assessments, a 20% increase.
Educators and Parents Agree Relationships are Critical to Success
In a 2022 national survey of changing educator and parent views, 97% of administrators, 98% of teachers and 90% of parents felt relationships were the most critical social emotional component of student success.
Educators Feel Engagement Best Indicator of Success
A 2022 national survey of changing educator and parent views showed 94% of educators think student engagement is the most important metric of student success, following a similar trend of 92% for the 2021 survey.
CTE Courses Lead to Higher Employment and Salaries
A large study in Arkansas showed students who took just one more Career and Technical Education course than the average of 4.9 increased their probability of employment the year after graduation by 1.5 percentage points and their expected quarterly wage by 3%. Of note, Arkansas college students also commonly work.
CTE Courses Lead to Higher Graduation and College Enrollment Rates
Study of a large data set in Arkansas revealed students who took just one more Career Technical Education course than the average of 4.9 increased their probability of graduating from high school by 3.2 percentage points and of enrolling in a two-year college the next year by 0.6 percentage points.
CTE Course Concentration Increases Graduation Rates
A study of CTE in Arkansas showed students concentrating in a program of study (a sequence of three related classes) had a four-year graduation rate of 93%, compared to 51% for non-concentrators. College enrollment rates were 28% compared to 20% for non-concentrators, with low-income students showing the largest positive impact.
Student Do Not Feel Represented in School Decision-Making
In a nationally representative sample of 1,000 8-12th grade students surveyed after the 2021-22 school year, only 28% felt student opinions are represented “a great deal” in major decisions and policy considerations at their school, with numbers much lower for district, state and federal decisions.
Immersive MA Career and Technical Education Boosts Graduation Rates
In a study of Massachusetts schools in which all students participate in an immersive Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, students with higher incomes were 7 to 10 percentage points more likely to graduate from high school on time than similar income peers receiving either more traditional or no CTE programming.
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