Competency-Based Education

Over six years ago the middle school began its transition to becoming a competency-based model of instruction. The first step was to have a fully articulated curriculum. Next educators developed performance assessments to assess the standards, and finally instruction was designed by teachers to align to the standards outlined in the curriculum. For grading the school uses a combination of formative and summative assessments, rubrics, and a four-point performance scale. Behavior and work habits are evaluated separately. Scores students earn are not averaged, instead teachers look at a body of evidence to see how their students met the competencies. An on-line learning management system tracks scores, shows learning progressions, and is a tool to record evidence of student learning. This competency-based system is sustained by professional learning communities--groups of subject area teachers that meet regularly to ensure vertical alignment of standards, and to calibrate assessments to make sure they are scored with consistency.