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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New York City School’s Career Technical Education Program Boosts Graduation Rates
Brooklyn STEAM, a New York City Career Technical Education Program in which students participate in project-based career studies along with academic subjects at their home high schools, reported 88% of the 2021 class graduated, compared to 79% across NYC as a whole.
California Students in Career Pathways Earn More Credits
In an evaluation of California schools featuring Linked Learning career pathways, students accumulated 8.9 credits more than peers at traditional California schools. Those with low achievement before entering a linked learning high school earned 15.5 credits more than students at traditional schools.
Whole Child Schools in DC Rate High in Social-Emotional Learning
Students at the 5 DC elementary schools in the Whole-Child Collaborative’s pilot cohort saw statistically significant increases after a year implementing the student well-being model (2019-2020) in each of the SEL competencies measured on the Panorama SEL Assessment. These included self-efficacy, social awareness, perseverance and belonging.
Career Pathways Boost Post-Secondary Enrollment in California
In an evaluation, students at California Linked Learning career high schools who began with low levels of academic preparation were 5.7 percentage points more likely to enroll in college right after high school and 4.1 percentage points more likely to enroll in a 4- rather than a 2-year college, compared to peers at traditional schools.
Feedback for Growth Also Improved Classroom Community and Student Voice
Schools in Yonkers, New York that improved the quality of individualized feedback focused on growth in math also raised perception of supportive teaching, classroom community and student voice in surveys of 3,000+ middle school students in 2022. One site raised community scores 5, student voice 7 and supportive teaching 6 percentage points.
New York City School’s Career and Technical Education Program Boasts Higher College Enrollment
In 2021, 71% of the students attending the student-centered Career and Technical Education program at Brooklyn STEAM enrolled in college compared to just 58% of all New York City students.
Empowering Students and Teachers in St. Louis Sparks Academic Progress
With St. Louis Public Schools and Washington University, two struggling elementary schools have turned around by focusing on student voice and teacher empowerment. MAP Math scores have increased 2.5-fold and science 5-fold. Scores rose in three years from 10% meeting basic standards to 27% meeting math and 47% meeting science standards in 2022.
Programs Creating More Equitable Access to Dual Enrollment in CA
An analysis of CA students' dual enrollment in 2020-21 showed more equitable participation across ethnic groups in 9th grade. The disparity between Asian and Black student participation was 14% in 12th grade and only 4% in 9th. This is attributed to more formal opportunities like early college high schools and College and Career Access Pathways.
Personalized Learning Boosts Teacher Confidence in Meeting SEL needs
In a 2022 survey of 1,000 teachers, those who reported using all the personalized learning strategies on the survey were much more confident meeting students’ social-emotional needs. Of those reporting high use of personalization 64% felt "high confidence" in their ability, compared to only 39% of the teachers with low implementation.
Using Blended Learning Practices Correlated with Higher Personalization
In a survey of 1,000 teachers post pandemic, those who used blended learning were more likely to implement personalized learning strategies. For example, 56% of surveyed teachers who used blended learning also adopted flexible pacing, while only 32% of those not using blended learning did so.
Focusing on Whole Student Promotes Belonging, Creates Parent Satisfaction in DC Elementary
Van Ness Elementary, a DC school working with Transcend to rethink education by focusing on the whole student, outperformed schools in the district on all categories of the Panorama SEL evaluation tool, including self-regulation, sense of belonging and satisfaction. Of note, the school received a 98% student and 95% parent satisfaction rating.
Attendance Higher at ND Personalized, Competency-based Schools
A five-year evaluation of the North Dakota Personalized, Competency-Based Learning Initiative showed a small but significant impact on attendance. 4-5th and 9-12th graders’ rates were 1 percentage point or 2 school days higher than matched peers at non-personalized schools, and 6-8th graders' rates were 2 percentage points, or 4 days, higher.
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