State Spotlight: Utah’s Continued Journey to Personalized, Competency-Based Learning

Utah

Sydney Young, Education Specialist, Utah Board of Education, highlights how the Beehive State has remained one of the nation's leaders in creating classrooms that are focused on students' mastery of skills rather than seat time.

Innovation

The current cohort of states represents a diverse set of programs and different stages of implementation. Examples include state-level initiatives such as “innovation zones” and state-administered grants for competency-based pilots. Some states have been administering these programs for several years while some are just beginning. This guest blog series will feature network participan

ExcelinEd supports the continuing evolution of innovative education models and programs in schools across the nation. Our Network of State Innovation Partners assists state staff and partner organizations in the adoption and implementation of innovation and pilot programs. The current cohort of states represents a diverse set of programs and different stages of implementation. Examples include state-level initiatives such as “innovation zones” and state-administered grants for competency-based pilots. Some states have been administering these programs for several years while some are just beginning. This guest blog series will feature network participants and their state’s policy and practices that enable Next Generation Learning to flourish.

Up first in the series is Utah. Following the lead of local schools seeking the best way to support student-centered learning, Utah has been among the national leaders in creating classrooms of the future that focus on students’ mastery of knowledge and skills rather than seat-time.

Sarah Bishop-Root, Policy Director, Next Generation Learning


Part of my role at the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) is to support Utah school districts and charter schools with planning, implementing, scaling, and expanding Personalized Competency Based Learning (PCBL) programs. Utah’s Personalized Competency-Based Learning (PCBL) Grants Program provides financial and technical assistance, networking opportunities and thought partnership for participants progressing through the planning, implementation and expansion phases of the grants program. PCBL provides a gradual transition away from seat time, in favor of a structure that creates flexibility and allows students to progress as they demonstrate mastery of academic content regardless of time, place or pace of their learning.

PCBL strategies provide students with learning opportunities tailored to their strengths, needs, and interests while leveraging flexibility in the way that credit can be earned. These strategies include online and blended learning, early college experiences and project-based and community-based learning, among others. As students engage in PCBL, the relevancy of their learning increases as they apply newly acquired knowledge, skills and dispositions in real world contexts. This leads to better student outcomes, including increased readiness for postsecondary pathways.

Over the past several years, Utah has been intentionally creating alignment and cohesiveness throughout the education system, from policy to practice. We understand the importance of establishing a common vision, providing flexibility and empowering local innovation for PCBL implementation.

Utah’s steady journey toward personalized, competency-based learning took another step forward this month.

House Bill 181: Personalized, Competency-based Learning, sponsored by Representative Dan Johnson, highlights Utah’s continuous momentum. As a result of Rep. Johnson’s and Senator Chris Wilson’s leadership, the bill sailed through to Governor Spencer Cox’s desk and was signed into law on March 17.

Other states can look to Utah policy for flexibility measures that empower local innovation while providing support for PCBL implementation.

Solution Areas:

Next Generation Learning

Topics:

Personalized Learning

About the Author