The much-criticized Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) is not aligned with current Common Core literacy standards, is expensive, has a low pass rate on the first try of 66%, and keeps People of Color from joining the profession (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, 2019). The test maybe replaced with coursework. Critics…

Educational leaders across the country are catching on to the idea that traditional grading practices and standardized tests do not adequately capture the scope of what young people know and can do. These schools and districts are experimenting with new models for assessing learning and communicating results with students and families. This…

This guide was developed for PreK-12 leaders interested in exploring innovative approaches to evaluating student learning. Specifically, the authors sought to identify promising practices in evaluating critically important learning outcomes that infrequently get evaluated, such as career readiness skills, social and emotional competencies, and…

In this qualitative study, 74 self-reported incidents from student affairs professionals at different levels of experience were analyzed to support the claim that the 10 ACPA/NASPA competency areas increase in complexity as expertise develops. Participants at all experience levels were observed using (a) personal and ethical foundations, (b)…

This issue brief discusses opportunities for states under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to redesign systems of assessments to support student-centered learning. In addition, this brief introduces "balanced systems of assessments" and "assessment literacy" as two key concepts required for long-term sustainable systems…

This study describes a strengths-based blended personalized learning model, the implementation of the model over a 4-year period, and the results of an impact study focused on measuring its effectiveness. The model includes many commonly-used features of personalized learning, including (a) competency-based progressions, (b) flexible learning…

Lindsay Unified School District (California) exemplifies the promise of competency education (or performance-based education, as it is called locally). Since beginning its transition to the model in 2009, discipline problems have sharply dropped, the school climate has dramatically improved (as measured by the California Healthy Kids Survey), and…

This forum provided an overview of competency-based pathways to education and described programs that have successfully utilized these pathways to move all students to success in high school and beyond. Speakers highlighted how innovative learning environments that base student advancement upon mastery of measurable learning objectives have been…

This curriculum guide, one of the "Nutrition Education-Choose Well, Be Well" curriculum series, is designed to help preschool and kindergarten teachers acquire the skills necessary for providing and implementing effective nutrition education. Chapter 1 of the document presents an introductory overview of the manual's objectives and…

Contributions by California art educators in this guide outline issues underlying performance assessment and provide examples of assessment for the arts from kindergarten through grade 12. Chapter 1 introduces art as basic to education and presents the potential of art education for all students. Chapter 2 examines performance assessment by giving…

This handbook is designed as a process approach to competency-based adult education (CBAE) implementation in the areas of management, assessment, guidance, and instruction. Each component also addresses cultural considerations. The guide is organized in five sections. The first section is an overview of CBAE that explains the reasons for using…

Part of the "Nutrition Education-Choose Well, Be Well" curriculum series, this guide was developed to help teachers, food service personnel, professionals, and parents provide nutrition education and make nutrition come alive in the classroom, home, or cafeteria. Organized by grade level (from fourth through sixth), activities described…

To be used in conjunction with the "Nutrition Education-Choose Well, Be Well" curriculum series, this curriculum guide is designed to help teachers in primary grades acquire the skills necessary to provide and implement effective nutrition education. The document is based on the goals set forth in the Health Instruction Framework for…

This manual provides recommendations for developing, implementing, and using the Common Core Units in Business Education (CCUBE)--instructional materials, methodologies, and strategies for implementing the sixteen Common Core Competencies of the California Business Education Program Guide for Office and Distributive Occupations. Contents include a…

Central to this project, which designed a staff development prototype, was the need for preservice and inservice staff development designed to improve skills required for successful performance of guidance personnel. The project was conducted during an 18-month period in five phases. Phase 1 involved integrating existing California and American…