Policy: District

Schools, Districts, and States Transform Seat-based Requirements into Competency-based Pathways to College- and Career-Readiness

Schools today are struggling to achieve innovation, efficiency, and effective reform with limited financial resources. To allay these challenges met by education leaders, the U.S. Department of Education has suggested some approaches to increase educational productivity. Among these recommendations, the Department makes a strong case for policies targeted at personalized learning and competency-based pathways.

Blended Learning Implementation Guide

This implementation guide from Digital Learning Now and the Foundation for Excellence in Education is the fifth document in a series focused on making the connection between blended learning and the implementation of the Common Core State Standards. The guide aims to support school and district leaders in the transition to a blended learning model by providing specific guidance related to: creating the conditions for success, planning, implementation, and continuous improvement.

Degree Completion Beyond Institutional Borders: Responding to the New Reality of Mobile and Nontraditional Learners

This report explains the process colleges, states, and other organizations use to recognize prior learning and transfer credit. The report also examines institutional policies that impede student progress toward earning college credits and transferring these credits through and among institutions. Additionally, examples of colleges and systems that allow for successful recognition of prior learning and transfer of credit are provided and best practices for using competencies and other methods for college degree attainment, other than just credit hours, are presented. 

50-State Scan of Course Credit Policies

This report includes a scan of K-12 credit policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The scan explores which states have policies that define credit based solely on seat time and which states allow for more flexibility when awarding course credits. The report uses five categories to organize state credit policies ranging from the complete abolishment of the Carnegie Unit to the use of alternative credit policies only in special circumstances such as credit recovery.

Teaching Adolescents to Become Leaders: The Role of Noncognitive Factors in Shaping School Performance: A Critical Literature Review

This literature review explores the role of noncognitive factors in academic performance, which is measured by student GPA. The report develops an evidence-based conceptual framework from existing literature on noncognitive factors. The report also analyzes existing research to identify any gaps in knowledge in order to assist policymakers who wish to assess leverage points for improving student achievement. Additionally, it examines implications for student learning, presents case studies, and provides recommendations.

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