Getting the Message Right: Strategies for Articulating Competency-Based Pathways to Diverse Audience

Getting the Message Right: Strategies for Communicating Competency-Based Pathways to Diverse Audiences

January 15, 2015

Webinar Details

Dial-in Number: • 1 (866) 294-4838 Passcode: 8904 134# • For operator assistance dial *0 at any time Lines will be muted throughout the webinar Type your questions into the chat box

2

Presenters: Chris Sturgis, Co-Founder, CompetencyWorks Pete Janhunen, Senior Communications Strategist, The Fratelli Group Kim Hanisch, Director of Services/Education Specialist, Re-Inventing Schools Coalition, RISC Expert: Rose Colby, Competency-Based Learning and Assessment Specialist Moderator: Cory Curl, Senior Fellow for Assessment and Accountability, Achieve

3

Agenda

Welcome and Introductions: Cory Curl Presentations: • State of the Field: Chris Sturgis • Reflections from the Ground: Kim Hanisch • Big Picture Takeaways: Pete Janhunen Communications Toolkit Release: Andrew Valent Facilitated Discussion & Audience Q&A: Cory Curl & Andrew Valent

4

Chris Sturgis Co-Founder, CompetencyWorks Principal, MetisNet

Reflections: State of the Field • Strengths

– 51% of states have some level of activity

• 1/3 of states have some level of initiative to explore or advance CE • Additional nine states have districts transforming

– Models beginning to maximize value by integrating personalized learning, competency-based structured and blended instruction – Knowledge becoming embedded in advocacy and intermediary organizations (30+ organizations) – Strong interest in CE in higher education

• Concerns

– Lack diversity (racial and expertise in serving vulnerable students) in leading organizations – Mixed opinion if there is agreement about what competency education is (or is not) – Need to establish aligned policy infrastructure – Have not defined quality implementation – Still waiting to see consistent results

Big Challenge Helping People Wrap Their Minds Around CBE Is it the same as or how does it relate to personalized learning and blended learning?

•Use clear definitions & training for SEA staf Is this a movement primarily aimed at more advantaged populations?

•Benefits all students •Equity at the core – engage civil rights/special population advocates early What is a competency and how does it differ from standards?

•Builds on standards, emphasis on application & higher order skills How does it impact teachers?

•Collaborative, emphasizing embedded professional development and professional judgment How will this impact my child getting into college?

•Engage higher education presidents and admissions directors Does this mean students can test out?

•Students work at academic level and demonstrate learning •Beware of concept of direct assessment in higher education

Create Conversation!

Resources at •

• •

Introductory Materials - Feel free to use with your logo – What is Competency Education?

– For State Policymakers and Federal Policymakers Wiki: Engaging Communities in Building Shared Vision Lessons Learned in Writing Introductory Materials – Vendors are calling software mastery-based – Careful with the phrase “Learning is constant and time is variable” – Emphasis on pace and self-pace only suggests online learning, not doing what is not necessary to help student reach proficiency.

– Growth mindset, student agency and transparency are often underemphasized although essential element – Tendency to think assessment=test=state accountability – Help people understand why traditional system isn’t efective – Analogies can be helpful – recommend developing them as fully as possible

Kim Hanisch RISC Director of Services and Educational Specialist 2010-Present “You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful.

What you’ll discover is yourself.” ~Alan Alda

Who We Are Re-Inventing Schools Coalition (RISC) is a Division of Marzano Research that supports schools and districts in their transition from a time-based to a competency/performance-based system which results in each student realizing their highest learning potential.

RISC: What We Do  Transform

Educational Systems

improved learning environments and student achievement

 Shift

the Paradigm

 Time-Based to Performance-Based through staff development

 Facilitate

Change

tools, processes, experience

 Coach supported and guided implementation

RISC Framework for Success • Leadership Capacity for All Stakeholders

• Stakeholders Driving Systematic Change

Shared Vision 21st Century Skills

Leadership Life-Long Learning

Sustainability

Personal Mastery • Stakeholders guide learning targets to ensure vision achieved • 24/7 learning – home, work, school

Continuous Improvement

•

Stakeholder feedback loops guide refining processes that foster excellence

Community Voices “I challenge you to find a better system than one such as ours, where the community helped shape the system and the students plan their learning.”

- Dean Rand, Whittier Parent, Chugach School District, Alaska

"Seems like we should have done this a long time ago" "We were a disgruntled Education Advisory Committee 3 years ago, but now we are supporting the model because the District has shown us the data that our students are improving " . ~Mat-Su, Valley Pathways community member

RISC Resources www.reinventingschools.org ◦ Organizational Pathway Tool (OPath) ◦ Services – Trainings, Coaching, Webinars, Site Visits ◦ Products – Proficiency Scale Package, Implementation Tools

Readiness for All Telling the Story of CompetencyBased Pathways

The Fratelli Group January 15, 2015

What We Did

 Conversations with state teams  Crafted messages  Training summit with states  State strategy discussions  Developed planning tools

Competency Provides a Foundation for Success

“Competency-based pathways better prepares students to graduate from high school ready for college and careers.�

It Is Personalized, Not “One Size Fits All”

“The student’s individual needs and interests are the focus of all teaching efforts, instead of a cookie-cutter approach.”

It Better Prepares Students

“By focusing on the mastery of critical knowledge and skills, it prevents learning gaps from developing and growing over time.�

It Is Transparent

“Diplomas and transcripts give parents, college admissions counselors and employers a more complete sense of what a student has in fact learned.�

Keys to Your Success

   

Lean on Achieve Learn from other states Find and tell your story Be patient, consistent and flexible

Communications Toolkit Online Release

Competency-Based Pathways Communications Toolkit Online at: http://www.achieve.org/CBPCommunicationsToolkit Suite of resources to help states articulate the value and need for competencybased pathways.

Can be adapted for use by districts, advocates and others.

The Toolkit includes: • Communications Planning Tool • Messaging Document • Student Success Stories Infographic • Stakeholder Engagement Worksheet • Exemplar Communications Documents • FAQs 22

Facilitated Discussion: Cory Curl, Senior Fellow for Assessment and Accountability, Achieve, ccurl@achieve.org Chris Sturgis, Co-Founder, CompetencyWorks, sturgis.chris@gmail.com Pete Janhunen, Senior Communications Strategist, The Fratelli Group, pjanhunen@fratelli.com Kim Hanisch, Director of Services/Education Specialist, Re-Inventing Schools Coalition, RISC, khanisch@reinventingschools.org Rose Colby, Competency-Based Learning and Assessment Specialist, rosecolby@comcast.net

23

•

Introductory Materials – What is Competency Education?

– State Policymakers – Federal Policymakers • Definition and key components of competency education • Snapshot of state strategies for promoting competency education • Opportunities for federal policy alignment

Communications Toolkit Spotlight

Communications Planning Tool This document outlines a step-by-step approach for state-based teams to consider in developing tailored communications plans to build support for competency-based pathways.

25

Communications Toolkit Spotlight

Messaging Document This document provides a list of key definitions, key messages and talking points that can be adapted and used to describe competency-based pathways.

26

Communications Toolkit Spotlight

Stakeholder Engagement Worksheet This document helps state stakeholders develop an action plan for engaging specific stakeholder groups, drawing attention to desired outcomes, current understanding, key messages, and timeline.

27

Additional Achieve Resources

Advancing Competency-Based Pathways to College and Career Readiness Framework • Helps states build a policy structure that contributes to statewide adoption and implementation of competency-based pathways.

• Highlights key questions states should ask.

• Focus on key state policy pillars: – Statewide Vision – Graduation Requirements – Assessment – Accountability

28

Additional Achieve Resources

Advancing Competency-Based Pathways to College an d Career Readiness Series: The Imperative for Sta te Leadership Policy Brief • Provides guidance to state leaders on implementing competency-based pathways.

• Focus on defining competency-based pathways and developing strong rationale for shift.

• Also highlights key state policy issues and importance of equity focus.

29

Audience Q&A Andrew Valent, Senior Policy Associate, Achieve, avalent@achieve.org Chris Sturgis, Principal, Metisnet, sturgis.chris@gmail.com Pete Janhunen, Senior Communications Strategist, The Fratelli Group, pjanhunen@fratelli.com Kim Hanisch, Director of Services/Education Specialist, Re-Inventing Schools Coalition, RISC, khanisch@reinventingschools.org Rose Colby, Competency-Based Learning and Assessment Specialist, rosecolby@comcast.net

30

Contact Information

Achieve Staff Cory Curl, Senior Fellow for Assessment and Accountability, Achieve, ccurl@achieve.org Andrew Valent, Senior Policy Associate, Achieve, avalent@achieve.org

Council of Chief State School Officers Innovation Lab Network Staff Jennifer Davis Poon, Program Director, Innovation Lab Network, Jennifer.Poon@ccsso.org

31

Getting the Message Right: Strategies for Communicating Competency-Based Pathways to Diverse Audiences

January 15, 2015