New Policy Brief on Competency-Based Pathways

Achieve has released a new policy brief, The Imperative for State Leadership, to provide guidance on critical areas for states to exercise strong leadership as they advance competency-based pathways to college and career readiness for all students. It highlights the importance of states providing leadership on communications and engagement to pave the way forward for districts and schools; ensuring that graduation requirements, assessments and accountability systems work together to promote determinations of competency that equate to college and career readiness; and addressing risks to equity to make certain that a shift to competency-based pathways promotes greater opportunity and outcomes for students of color, economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities and English language learners. This policy brief accompanies Achieve’s state policy framework, Advancing Competency-Based Pathways to College and Career Readiness, which illuminates key decisions for states in the areas of graduation requirements, assessments and accountability. It has been informed by Achieve’s ongoing work with states through the CBP State Partnership and a working group of state leaders and experts.