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NHLI | New Hampshire Learning Initiative
All Students Deserve a Quality Education
February 3, 2025
/Educators and administrators often navigate a complex web of choices, initiatives, and pressures in the ever-evolving educational landscape. As school districts strive to implement approaches that promise to enhance student learning and success, the journey can be fraught with challenges. Amidst this quest for practical solutions, textbook companies and educational vendors present enticing offers, claiming to resolve all the issues educators face. These promises can be alluring, tempting districts to shift their focus away from established, practical methods in favor of unproven programs that may not align with their core educational philosophies.
The struggle to stay focused and committed to a chosen educational approach is particularly daunting when faced with the allure of quick fixes. While some programs seem like a silver bullet, they often fail to deliver long-term results. This constant temptation to adopt the latest trend can dilute the hard-earned progress made by schools committed to a comprehensive and consistent approach, such as competency-based learning (CBL). As districts work to address learning gaps and enhance student engagement, it is essential to maintain clarity of purpose and resist the pull of fleeting promises. A steadfast commitment to well-researched educational practices is crucial for creating lasting change and benefiting students.
As many districts begin to adopt skill-focused programs, it’s essential to emphasize the importance of maintaining a robust CBL framework. Our commitment to CBL has already established a foundation prioritizing academic competencies and student success skills. However, the recent trend of isolating learning into discrete standards poses a risk to the comprehensive development that CBL promotes.
In a competency-based approach, the focus shifts from merely meeting isolated standards to understanding and applying big ideas across disciplines. Students acquire knowledge and skills and develop the ability to transfer them to real-world contexts. By emphasizing academic competencies alongside success skills—such as critical thinking, self-direction, collaboration, and communication—we prepare students for life beyond school.
The strength of CBL lies in its ability to foster deeper understanding. Rather than encouraging students to memorize information for a single assessment, CBL nurtures a culture of inquiry and exploration. Students engage meaningfully with content, learning to ask questions, analyze information, and solve problems collaboratively. This approach equips them with the tools to navigate complex situations in their future careers and personal lives.
New Hampshire has been at the forefront of this educational evolution, with the New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI) leading the charge in implementing and supporting CBL across the state. NHLI empowers schools to prioritize competencies that genuinely matter for student success by providing resources, professional development, and a framework for CBL. Our leadership fosters a strong culture of competency-based learning, ensuring educators remain focused on nurturing the whole child.
In light of ongoing educational challenges, districts are actively addressing emerging learning gaps, particularly in the wake of recent disruptions. By reinforcing a competency-based approach, schools can identify specific areas where students may struggle and tailor interventions that promote mastery and confidence. This commitment to personalized learning helps close gaps and ensures all students receive the support they need to succeed. Competency-based education, as defined by Aurora Institute in 2019, is a system of education designed to ensure equity by holding all students to high expectations while providing personalized support to ensure mastery. It is grounded in the belief that learning is constant and time is variable, enabling students to progress as they demonstrate mastery of essential skills and knowledge.
Projects like PLACE (Performance Learning and Assessment) and initiatives focusing on project-based learning and interdisciplinary practices showcase significant progress in enhancing student engagement and competency development. These innovative approaches allow students to apply their learning in real-world scenarios, bridging gaps across subjects while fostering essential skills.
Vital programs like Building Essential Skills for the Future (BEST) address learning gaps within our schools. They promote integrating essential skills into the curriculum, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. We invest in our students’ futures by focusing on competencies that transcend individual disciplines.
We must remain vigilant to maintain our established CBL practices as we witness the shift towards more traditional skill-focused programs. It is crucial to advocate for an educational system that values the integration of knowledge across subjects and encourages students to make connections. We invest in our students’ futures by focusing on big ideas and competencies that transcend individual disciplines.
The importance of competency-based learning cannot be overstated. It is essential for fostering student engagement, encouraging the application of knowledge, and developing the skills necessary for success in an ever-changing world. As we navigate the challenges of a shifting educational landscape, let us commit to strengthening our CBL practices and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive. With the continued support of the New Hampshire Learning Initiative and our collective commitment to CBL, we can safeguard the integrity of our educational practices and ensure a brighter future for all students.
Contact NHLI for more information about how you can strengthen competency-based learning in your district.
Categories: Academic Competencies Competency Development Competency-Based Education Competency-Based Learning (CBL) Educational Best Practices Educational Trends Holistic Learning Interdisciplinary Learning NHLI Blogs NHLInsights, Research and Resources Personalized Learning Project-Based Learning Skill-Focused Education Student Engagement