Event Archive

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

✅ REGISTER NOW!

BIPOC affinity groups can provide participants support to address the specific challenges that educators of color face because of national systemic racism and can also contribute to retaining educators of color across MBLC schools. One of the outcomes of this group is to increase the involvement of staff of color in the CRS MBL work taking place at MBLC schools and in the MBLC overall.

Outcomes:

• To reduce and eliminate racial isolation for staff of color at MBLC schools through healing and joy 

• To increase the skills and knowledge of staff of color at MBLC schools to implement CRS MBL through professional learning

• To improve the cultural responsiveness of all MBLC schools through increased involvement of the schools’ staff of color 

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda

All Meeting Series Dates:

• October 8, 2024

• November 19, 2024

• January 7, 2025

• March 4, 2025

• May 13, 2025

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

The MBLC fellows are a group of educators from across the Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative who work to achieve educational equity in schools through leading and facilitating learning in their own schools and districts, and through the facilitation of sharing and learning among MBLC schools.

MBLC Fellows will attend 5 Zoom meetings from 3:30 - 5:00 PM on October 28, November 21, January 30, March 11, and April 29.

At the end of this fellowship, MBLC Impact Fellows should be able to say:

• Using various types of data, including student/community voice, I can identify areas of educational inequity or unresponsiveness at my school.

• Using various types of data, including student/community voice, I can design a project/initiative/professional learning to address this area of educational inequity or unresponsiveness at my school.

• I can lead a project/initiative/professional learning at my school, using principles of adult learning/change management to guide decisions

• I can gather feedback about my project/initiative/professional learning 

• I can facilitate professional learning among other educators

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda

March 5 - March 7, 2025

You’re invited to register 1-2 people (we recommend 2!) from your school/district for an optional trip to visit schools in the Competency Collaborative, a network of K-12 public schools across New York City that use Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE) together with Competency/Mastery-based Learning (MBL). 

✅ REGISTER NOW  (registration closed)

Registration Deadline is January 31

30 guests max, max 2 guests per school  (Last year's trip had a waitlist, and we expect a waitlist again this year)

This trip is designed specifically for MBLC member schools. We will visit 4 NYC middle and high schools with strong CRSE/MBL practices. Visits will include interactions with staff/leaders and students, shared resources, classroom rounds, and time to reflect on connections with your own school or classroom context. Visitors will be picked up in the morning at the hotel, travel by bus to schools, and return in the mid or late afternoon each day to the group’s midtown Manhattan hotel. Informal working breakfast and lunch will be included on visit days—and you will be on your own in midtown Manhattan for dinner/evenings. Clyde from GSP and Joy from NLC will accompany participants to school visits. 

❇️ TRIP DETAILS ❇️

Schools Will We Visit?

Click the links to learn more about these schools. Another good source of information is insideschools.org. You will hear highlights about each school as we head there together in the bus!

• • Robert Van Wyck Middle School in Jamaica, Queens, serving 1348 students in grades 6-8

  • The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria, serving 567 students in grades 6-12

  • NYC iSchool in Soho, Manhattan, serving 454 students in grades 9-12 Please note the iSchool is a 5th floor walkup; there is no elevator in the building. Please let us know if you have accessibility issues.

  • Manhattan International High School in Midtown East, Manhattan, serving 352 students in grades 9-12

What is the COST and what is included?

Prices per person are based on room occupancy. Double occupancy rooms require 2 paying guests.  Payment by check or credit card is accepted.

• $1117.68 per person - Guest Rooms with 1 Queen Bed - single occupancy

• $718.26 per person - Guest Rooms with 2 Queen Beds - double occupancy (2 paying guests)

Included:

• 3 nights at The Fifty Sonesta, per room choice: March 4 (check-in) to March 7 (check-out). All related taxes/fees and complimentary wifi included. Guests will be asked to provide credit card on arrival for incidentals/deposit.

• Bus transportation to and from schools on visit days: March 5th, 6th, and 7th. Driver gratuity included.

• Informal working breakfast and lunch March 5th, 6th, and 7th at host visiting (coordinated by New Learning Collaborative and host schools)

NOT Included: Airfare, transportation from/to airport, refreshments/entertainment/travel/meals not listed above, optional trip extension, any items not specifically listed above.

Flight Considerations

When planning air travel, you should consider arriving in and leaving from LaGuardia Airport. It is the closest airport to Manhattan, which is where the hotel is located, and it is less than 10 minutes away from the final school visit on Friday, March 7.

View more information here: bit.ly/March2025NYCTripInfo

For any questions, contact Clyde Cole, MBLC Coach at ccole@greatschoolspartnership.org.

Winter Community Gathering [in-person]

Tuesday, February 25, 2025   | 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location: University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma, WA 

In the morning, we will engage in thinking about this question: How can we make schools and workplaces more welcoming so that everyone can be their full selves every day? Clyde Cole, MBLC Coach, will introduce educators to two engaging and compelling activities they can use with staff and students that will have them sharing and reflecting on how they see the world, how the world sees them, and how they see themselves. We will also hold a Carousel activity similar to the one at Fall Gathering, during which schools can connect with each other to share ideas and resources.

In the afternoon, Sui-Lan Ho’okano, Cultural Educator Practitioner, along with additional facilitators, will lead events focused on helping MBLC schools weave together the John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial Standards, Social-Emotional Learning, and Culturally Responsive Indigenous Sustaining Practices to build respectful learning environments where all students feel brave and valued.

All MBLC schools are expected to send a team of at least two educators to this event. Please use this link to register for the event. 

Materials and Resources:

• • Participant Agenda

Logistics:

• Coffee and light refreshments will be served at 9:00 a.m. 

• The gathering will start promptly at 9:30 a.m. and will end at 3:30 p.m. Please arrive in plenty of time to get settled and get refreshments.

• To access this agenda online: https://bit.ly/Winter25Gather

• Please bring a water bottle for use with campus water stations.

Parking

Parking: Parking will be located across the street from William W. Phillip Hall at the Washington Museum. Please print a copy of this voucher before traveling to the gathering, and place it on your dashboard before leaving your car. Please note, from the Museum lot you will need to walk across the street and to the center stairs to enter the main entrance of WPH, as the doors on Pacific Avenue will not be open.

Hotel Block Information:

We have two hotel blocks available for anyone who needs overnight accommodation. Both hotels are located within a short walking distance to the University campus.

• Hotel Murano. 1320 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma, Washington, United States, 98402. Use this dedicated booking site by 1/24/25

• Marriott Tacoma Downtown. 1538 Commerce Street Tacoma, Washington, USA, 98402. Use this dedicated booking site by 1/24/25.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

The MBLC fellows are a group of educators from across the Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative who work to achieve educational equity in schools through leading and facilitating learning in their own schools and districts, and through the facilitation of sharing and learning among MBLC schools.

MBLC Fellows will attend 5 Zoom meetings from 3:30 - 5:00 PM on October 28, November 21, January 30, March 11, and April 29.

At the end of this fellowship, MBLC Impact Fellows should be able to say:

• Using various types of data, including student/community voice, I can identify areas of educational inequity or unresponsiveness at my school.

• Using various types of data, including student/community voice, I can design a project/initiative/professional learning to address this area of educational inequity or unresponsiveness at my school.

• I can lead a project/initiative/professional learning at my school, using principles of adult learning/change management to guide decisions

• I can gather feedback about my project/initiative/professional learning 

• I can facilitate professional learning among other educators

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

What schoolwide systems support the implementation of our MBLC goals?  During the webinar portion of the meeting, we will explore the critical role effective systems play in whole-school change efforts and will hear about some examples of systems explicitly designed to support schoolwide enactment of culturally responsive and sustaining mastery-based learning practices.

Meeting Outcomes:

• Identify specific factors that make a system effective at supporting school-wide implementation of MBL-CRSE

• Gain awareness of specific systems that can support schoolwide MBL-CRSE implementation

• Explore some tools that can help you establish systems at your school

Essential Questions:

• What do we mean by a system? How is it different than any initiative?

• What makes a system effective? How can systems be set-up to effectively support schoolwide implementation of CRSE-MBL?

• What systems can be used to support schoolwide implementation of CRSE-MBL?l

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda

• Slides

• Watch the Recording

• Edgemont Jr High Breakout Room Recording

All Meeting Series Dates:

• September 17, 2024

• November 12, 2024

• January 14, 2025

• February 4, 2025

• March 18, 2025

• June 3, 2025

Thursday, November 21, 2024

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

The MBLC fellows are a group of educators from across the Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative who work to achieve educational equity in schools through leading and facilitating learning in their own schools and districts, and through the facilitation of sharing and learning among MBLC schools.

MBLC Fellows will attend 5 Zoom meetings from 3:30 - 5:00 PM on October 28, November 21, January 30, March 11, and April 29.

At the end of this fellowship, MBLC Impact Fellows should be able to say:

• Using various types of data, including student/community voice, I can identify areas of educational inequity or unresponsiveness at my school.

• Using various types of data, including student/community voice, I can design a project/initiative/professional learning to address this area of educational inequity or unresponsiveness at my school.

• I can lead a project/initiative/professional learning at my school, using principles of adult learning/change management to guide decisions

• I can gather feedback about my project/initiative/professional learning 

• I can facilitate professional learning among other educators

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

The MBLC Meetings are a series of online events that meet throughout the year. In these meetings we will share webinar presentations on essential components of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Mastery-Based Learning. Each webinar will be followed by breakout room sessions during which MBLC educators will be able to connect with others from across the collaborative to discuss the ideas shared in the webinar, and to share dilemmas, questions, successes and resources. 

This month we'll address questions like, what are practical steps we can take to uplift student voices in our school? How can the practices of mastery-based learning help us uplift student voices? How can we engage with students/and/or community members when designing/revising school systems? In this webinar we will, explore strategies used by culturally responsive-sustaining school systems for uplifting student voice, deepen understanding of the Spectrum of Student Voice, and examine practical tools from various grade levels and discuss how they might be applied in MBLC schools.

Meeting Series Outcomes:

• Build understanding of how to use a combination of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining and Mastery-Based approaches to achieve greater educational equity in schools and districts

• Build understanding of how to integrate youth voice and leadership into school change efforts

• Increase awareness of resources, tools, and approaches being used successfully across the Collaborative

Materials/Resources

• • Participant Rolling Agenda

  • Slides

  • There are three video recordings from our meeting:

    • • The main webinar recording, which includes Sarah Goodman and her students presenting about the Hunter’s Point Community Middle School Student Leadership Team

      • Breakout Room 1 recording: Mark Keating and Alyssa Maslen presenting about the Elma Elementary School Badge Books. 

      • Breakout room 2 recording: discussion with Sarah Goodman and her students. 

  • Hunter’s Point Community Middle School Links:

• HPCMS SLT/PAC Agenda

• Official HPCMS Student & Family Handbook 2023-2024

• Instructional Model and School-Wide Standards

• Badge Book Examples from Elma Elementary:

  1. • Early Learning (pre-k) Badge Book

     • Kindergarten Badge Book

     • First Grade Badge Book

     • Second Grade Badge Book

All Meeting Series Dates:

• September 17, 2024

• November 12, 2024

• January 14, 2025

• February 4, 2025

• March 18, 2025

• June 3, 2025

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

✅ REGISTER NOW!

BIPOC affinity groups can provide participants support to address the specific challenges that educators of color face because of national systemic racism and can also contribute to retaining educators of color across MBLC schools. One of the outcomes of this group is to increase the involvement of staff of color in the CRS MBL work taking place at MBLC schools and in the MBLC overall.

Outcomes:

• To reduce and eliminate racial isolation for staff of color at MBLC schools through healing and joy 

• To increase the skills and knowledge of staff of color at MBLC schools to implement CRS MBL through professional learning

• To improve the cultural responsiveness of all MBLC schools through increased involvement of the schools’ staff of color 

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda (coming soon!)

All Meeting Series Dates:

• October 8, 2024

• November 19, 2024

• January 7, 2025

• March 4, 2025

• May 13, 2025

Due to some unforeseen contracting delays, the State Board of Education will need to cancel the MBLC Summer Institute that had been planned for August 7th and 8th. We regret this disruption to our summer event and look forward to our fall events where we will be able to connect as a community once again. 

Though the Summer Institute is canceled, we will be hosting virtual events on Zoom for those two days. We are excited to share that on Aug. 7 from 9:30-10:30, Rebecca Midles, national expert in mastery-based learning and Washington native, will be presenting an overview of different approaches surrounding implementation by teachers, schools, and districts with time for Q&A around potential obstacles or challenges after the presentation. On Aug. 8 from 9:30-10:30, Rebecca will also be available for more general Q&A. 

Alissa and Seema will be available on Aug. 7-8 on Zoom for open office hours once Rebecca’s time ends until 3:30 each day. If you have questions or concerns about anything related to the MBLC, or if you would simply like to chat, please feel free to drop in virtually on those days. You may also schedule a meeting through Seema and Alissa’s Calendly any time that is convenient for you. 

We encourage you and your team to use the time you had set aside for the summer institute to do some team planning for your culturally responsive MBL work this year. Some ideas to get you started include:

• Review your work plans and:

  • • Create a slide to share about what you are doing with other schools. Include what you are most excited about working on right now as well as what you’d like to learn from other MBLC schools. Include contact information for your MBLC team lead. (We hope to use this information to pair schools at future events and eventually turn this information from all schools into a page on the MBLC website.)

    • Distill the plan into a version to share with your full staff as a “plan on a page” or a version to share with your community about your MBLC work

• Consider which implementation steps you are focusing on and use the resources on the MBLC site to engage in some collaborative learning

If you are planning to attend the workshop being offered on Culturally Responsive Indigenous Sustaining Practices on August 6, this event will still be taking place, and we encourage you to attend. Registration is still open, and you may want to send some additional members of your school team to engage in learning and connect with other MBLC schools. All registration information can be found here.

We will be in touch regarding the fall events in the next couple of weeks. 

Again, we would like to express our apologies for this disappointing news, but we are very much looking forward to an exciting year ahead for the MBLC.

PLC Session 4 (Cohort 2): Principles & Practices of Learner-Centered CRSE/MBL

Monday, May 20, 2024

3:45 p.m - 5:15 p.m PST

✅ REGISTER NOW!

Session Agenda

This PLC is designed for Cohort 2 MBLC member school teams. These five online sessions will be both informative and highly interactive. 

Come meet and learn with other schools in the new MBLC Cohort 2. We're excited to work with you.

We request each Cohort 2 school to register 3-4+ from your MBLC team as participants in all 5 sessions in this PLC series. 

What will we do in PLC sessions?

Our PLC is where we can talk shop and reflect, share resources and inspirations, talk through questions, and strategize about the complexities of our work—in community with school colleagues and folks from other MBLC member school teams.

Who should sign up?

Your MBLC Cohort 2 school's MBLC team (or a minimum of 3-4 members).

Session Dates:  

Please plan to join all 5 PLC sessions. This will help us with building connections and following through in a collective learning space. Thank you!

1. Monday, January 8, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: Welcome & Intro to MBLC

2. Monday, February 5, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: Principles & Practices of learner-centered CRSE/MBL
   (Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education & Mastery-based Learning)

3. Monday, March 11, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: MBLC Implementation Steps

4. Monday, April 22, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: Crafting your MBLC Work Plan & Budget

5. Monday, May 20, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: School-to-School Share Out

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

MBLC Visit to Innovation Lab High School

9:00 am -2:00 pm 

Optional but encouraged, 20 guests max, max 2 guests per school 

Visit focus: Learner-centered school design

Register online: bit.ly/MBLCschoolvisitsMay2024

Youth Advisor Session

Thursday, May 2 and Thursday, May 9 2024 

12:00 p.m - 1:30 p.m PST

✅ REGISTER NOW!

For MBLC Youth Advisors + 1 Adult Ally from Your School (virtual, and optional but encouraged)

In these sessions, MBLC middle school and high school youth advisors will learn more about the MBLC project goals, clarify their own roles as advisors within their schools, receive leadership and advocacy training, build community with learners across the member schools, and prepare for active roles at MBLC community gatherings in the winter (role-alike conversations) and spring (youth advisor panels. We ask that youth be accompanied by one adult ally per school. All youth sessions will be held virtually.

What will we do in our meetings?

• Centering equity & youth voice

• Understanding the MBLC project & youth advisor role

• Building community and trust

• Flexing and growing critical lens & leadership moves

• Preparing for active presence at MBLC Community Gatherings in the Winter (online after school, role-alike conversation with other youth advisors) and Spring (in person youth panels for an audience of leaders and staff from member schools)

Who should sign up?

• Middle and high school youth advisors from MBLC schools

• One adult ally for each participating school, who joins youth advisors from their school in a supportive role

All sessions will be held during the school day, from 12:00-1:30 p.m.

• Fall: Thursday, November 16, 2023 

• Winter: Tuesday, January 9 & Thursday, February 29, 2024 (2/29 newly added opt-in session for resource feedback)

• Spring: Thursday, May 2, 2024  & Thursday May 9 (<< newly added opt-in panel debrief)

Webinar 17: Crafting & Utilizing School-Wide Outcomes

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

3:45 p.m - 4:45 p.m PST

 Watch the Recording  

In this webinar, we will explore the ways in which school-wide outcomes (which can also be called profile, portrait, or traits of a graduate, or cross-cutting skills) can be used to build a school-wide shared language of learning and a culture of creativity, curiosity, connection, and scholarship. Guest presenters from Avanti High School in Olympia and The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria in New York City will describe how they use shared outcomes with their students.

Outcomes:

• Explore how schools can work with families and community members to craft their school-wide outcomes;

• Learn about strategies schools can use to integrate student voice and vision in their school wide outcomes;

• Hear about how educators across the school integrate the school wide outcomes into their teaching and into the language of the learning community

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda 

• Slides

•  Watch the Recording  

PLC Session 4 for Cohort 1

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

✅ REGISTER NOW!

In interest-driven groups, we will learn with and from each others' experiences, questions, and passions. We'll take a collaborative approach to exploring school change, principles and practices of culturally responsive-sustaining education & MBL, educational equity, and youth-/child-centered approaches—focusing on aspects that are of highest interest to the group.  All PLCs will be held virtually.

What will we do in PLC sessions?

Our PLC is where we can talk shop and reflect, share resources and inspirations, talk through questions, and strategize about the complexities of our work—in community with school colleagues and folks from other MBLC member school teams.

Who should sign up?

Your school's MBLC team (or a minimum of 3-4 members). Each member of your MBLC team is invited to choose which interest-driven PLC to attend. MBLC team colleagues can decide if they want to be all together in one PLC, or spread out and share back to each other.

MBLC school principals are warmly welcome, but optional. 

The Interest-driven PLC Choices are: 

1. Project-based Unit/Assessment Design for MBL: This PLC will be a space where teachers can share learning, questions, dilemmas and successes in crafting project-based units or assessments. We will learn about and explore how to craft projects that are culturally responsive and that enable students to explore ideas and develop criticality while building academic skills. We also discuss and share ideas about how to integrate mastery-based approaches into projects.

2. Grading for Accuracy and Equity: This PLC will be a space where educators and school leaders can explore culturally responsive-sustaining, mastery-based approaches to feedback and grading. Participants will explore tools and systems together, discuss challenges and dilemmas, and share resources.

3. CRSE Foundations: This PLC will offer space to explore culturally responsive-sustaining education (CRSE). What does CRSE look like in classrooms and schools? How do CRSE and MBL interplay to benefit academic growth and wellbeing? What does CRSE call upon us to learn and unlearn? We'll look into these questions—and yours!—as we work with the three pillars of CRSE, and build capacity with key principles and practices of this powerful approach to effective, affirming, learner-centered school. (updated PLC focus)

Session Dates:  

Please plan to join all 5 PLC sessions. This will help us with building connections and following through in a collective learning space. Thank you!

1. Tuesday, October 24, (first meeting in person as part of our Fall Gathering)

2. Tuesday, November 28, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

3. Tuesday, February 13, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

4. Tuesday, March 12, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

5. Tuesday, May 21, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Webinar 16: Using Data to Select an Equity Focus

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

3:45 p.m - 4:45 p.m PST

In this webinar we will explore how schools can use their data to identify and prioritize equity issues and areas of strength in their programs. We will also discuss classroom examples of how MBL, CRSE, and Antiracist approaches can be used to address various inequities.

Outcomes:

• explore how schools can use data to select an equity focus

• explore how schools can use data to identify assets and strengths

• explore how schools can address inequities using MBL, CRS, or Anti-racist strategies

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda 

• Slides

• Watch the Recording  

PLC Session 3 for Cohort 1

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

✅ REGISTER NOW!

In interest-driven groups, we will learn with and from each others' experiences, questions, and passions. We'll take a collaborative approach to exploring school change, principles and practices of culturally responsive-sustaining education & MBL, educational equity, and youth-/child-centered approaches—focusing on aspects that are of highest interest to the group.  All PLCs will be held virtually.

What will we do in PLC sessions?

Our PLC is where we can talk shop and reflect, share resources and inspirations, talk through questions, and strategize about the complexities of our work—in community with school colleagues and folks from other MBLC member school teams.

Who should sign up?

Your school's MBLC team (or a minimum of 3-4 members). Each member of your MBLC team is invited to choose which interest-driven PLC to attend. MBLC team colleagues can decide if they want to be all together in one PLC, or spread out and share back to each other.

MBLC school principals are warmly welcome, but optional. 

The Interest-driven PLC Choices are: 

1. Project-based Unit/Assessment Design for MBL: This PLC will be a space where teachers can share learning, questions, dilemmas and successes in crafting project-based units or assessments. We will learn about and explore how to craft projects that are culturally responsive and that enable students to explore ideas and develop criticality while building academic skills. We also discuss and share ideas about how to integrate mastery-based approaches into projects.

2. Grading for Accuracy and Equity: This PLC will be a space where educators and school leaders can explore culturally responsive-sustaining, mastery-based approaches to feedback and grading. Participants will explore tools and systems together, discuss challenges and dilemmas, and share resources.

3. CRSE Foundations: This PLC will offer space to explore culturally responsive-sustaining education (CRSE). What does CRSE look like in classrooms and schools? How do CRSE and MBL interplay to benefit academic growth and wellbeing? What does CRSE call upon us to learn and unlearn? We'll look into these questions—and yours!—as we work with the three pillars of CRSE, and build capacity with key principles and practices of this powerful approach to effective, affirming, learner-centered school. (updated PLC focus)

Session Dates:  

Please plan to join all 5 PLC sessions. This will help us with building connections and following through in a collective learning space. Thank you!

1. Tuesday, October 24, (first meeting in person as part of our Fall Gathering)

2. Tuesday, November 28, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

3. Tuesday, February 13, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

4. Tuesday, March 12, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

5. Tuesday, May 21, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

PLC Session 2 (Cohort 2): Principles & Practices of Learner-Centered CRSE/MBL
(Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education & Mastery-based Learning)

3:45 p.m - 5:15 p.m PST

✅ REGISTER NOW!

Session Agenda

This PLC is designed for Cohort 2 MBLC member school teams. These five online sessions will be both informative and highly interactive. 

Come meet and learn with other schools in the new MBLC Cohort 2. We're excited to work with you.

We request each Cohort 2 school to register 3-4+ from your MBLC team as participants in all 5 sessions in this PLC series. 

What will we do in PLC sessions?

Our PLC is where we can talk shop and reflect, share resources and inspirations, talk through questions, and strategize about the complexities of our work—in community with school colleagues and folks from other MBLC member school teams.

Who should sign up?

Your MBLC Cohort 2 school's MBLC team (or a minimum of 3-4 members).

Session Dates:  

Please plan to join all 5 PLC sessions. This will help us with building connections and following through in a collective learning space. Thank you!

1. Monday, January 8, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: Welcome & Intro to MBLC

2. Monday, February 5, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: Principles & Practices of learner-centered CRSE/MBL
   (Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education & Mastery-based Learning)

3. Monday, March 11, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: MBLC Implementation Steps

4. Monday, April 22, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: Crafting your MBLC Work Plan & Budget

5. Monday, May 20, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: School-to-School Share Out

Winter Community Gathering

Thursday, January 11, 2024   | 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual Via Zoom

Materials/Resources

• • • Participant Agenda 

    • Google Slide Deck

    • This event was not recorded

Winter Gathering Outcomes:

• Build community with others in the MBLC

• Explore MBL and CRSE as strategies for educational equity, within and across our schools

• Communicate clearly and powerfully about changes we are planning and making, and the purpose for our work

PLC Session 2

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST

✅ REGISTER NOW!

In interest-driven groups, we will learn with and from each others' experiences, questions, and passions. We'll take a collaborative approach to exploring school change, principles and practices of culturally responsive-sustaining education & MBL, educational equity, and youth-/child-centered approaches—focusing on aspects that are of highest interest to the group.  All PLCs will be held virtually.

What will we do in PLC sessions?

Our PLC is where we can talk shop and reflect, share resources and inspirations, talk through questions, and strategize about the complexities of our work—in community with school colleagues and folks from other MBLC member school teams.

Who should sign up?

Your school's MBLC team (or a minimum of 3-4 members). Each member of your MBLC team is invited to choose which interest-driven PLC to attend. MBLC team colleagues can decide if they want to be all together in one PLC, or spread out and share back to each other.

MBLC school principals are warmly welcome, but optional. 

The Interest-driven PLC Choices are: 

1. Project-based Unit/Assessment Design for MBL: This PLC will be a space where teachers can share learning, questions, dilemmas and successes in crafting project-based units or assessments. We will learn about and explore how to craft projects that are culturally responsive and that enable students to explore ideas and develop criticality while building academic skills. We also discuss and share ideas about how to integrate mastery-based approaches into projects.

2. Grading for Accuracy and Equity: This PLC will be a space where educators and school leaders can explore culturally responsive-sustaining, mastery-based approaches to feedback and grading. Participants will explore tools and systems together, discuss challenges and dilemmas, and share resources.

3. CRSE Foundations: This PLC will offer space to explore culturally responsive-sustaining education (CRSE). What does CRSE look like in classrooms and schools? How do CRSE and MBL interplay to benefit academic growth and wellbeing? What does CRSE call upon us to learn and unlearn? We'll look into these questions—and yours!—as we work with the three pillars of CRSE, and build capacity with key principles and practices of this powerful approach to effective, affirming, learner-centered school. (updated PLC focus)

Session Dates:  

Please plan to join all 5 PLC sessions. This will help us with building connections and following through in a collective learning space. Thank you!

1. Tuesday, October 24, (first meeting in person as part of our Fall Gathering)

2. Tuesday, November 28, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

3. Tuesday, February 13, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

4. Tuesday, March 12, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

5. Tuesday, May 21, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Webinar 14: “It’s Just Good Teaching:” CRS MBL in Action

Thursday, November 2, 2023

3:45 p.m - 4:45 p.m PST

In this webinar, we will explore specific classroom strategies that teachers can use to increase their clarity, encourage students to set goals and track their own progress, and provide multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression for students.

Outcomes:

• Review connections between Universal Design for Learning and CRS MBL

• Explore techniques for creating units, lessons, and assessments using Universal Design for Learning

• Discuss examples of classroom strategies using Universal Design for Learning

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda 

• Webinar Slide deck 

•  Watch the Recording  

Professional Learning Communities

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

The first PLC meeting will be in person at the Fall Community Gathering

✅ REGISTER NOW!

Last year, school MBLC teams were grouped together in PLCs. This year, PLCs are interest-driven. Each member of your MBLC team is invited to choose which PLC to attend. You and your MBLC team colleagues can decide among yourselves if you want to be all together in one PLC, or spread out and share back to each other. As you consider which PLC to participate in, we encourage you to communicate with your MBLC team about what will serve your and your school's MBLC work best.

PLCs will meet 5 times between October and June. In interest-driven groups, we will learn with and from each others' experiences, questions, and passions. We'll take a collaborative approach to exploring school change, principles and practices of culturally responsive-sustaining education & MBL, educational equity, and youth-/child-centered approaches—focusing on aspects that are of highest interest to the group.  PLCs sessions 2-5 be held virtually.

What will we do in PLC sessions?

Our PLC is where we can talk shop and reflect, share resources and inspirations, talk through questions, and strategize about the complexities of our work—in community with school colleagues and folks from other MBLC member school teams.

Who should sign up?

Your school's MBLC team (or a minimum of 3-4 members). Each member of your MBLC team is invited to choose which interest-driven PLC to attend. MBLC team colleagues can decide if they want to be all together in one PLC, or spread out and share back to each other.

MBLC school principals are warmly welcome, but optional. 

The Interest-driven PLC Choices are: 

1. Project-based Unit/Assessment Design for MBL: This PLC will be a space where teachers can share learning, questions, dilemmas and successes in crafting project-based units or assessments. We will learn about and explore how to craft projects that are culturally responsive and that enable students to explore ideas and develop criticality while building academic skills. We also discuss and share ideas about how to integrate mastery-based approaches into projects.

2. Grading for Accuracy and Equity: This PLC will be a space where educators and school leaders can explore culturally responsive-sustaining, mastery-based approaches to feedback and grading. Participants will explore tools and systems together, discuss challenges and dilemmas, and share resources.

3. CRSE Foundations: This PLC will offer space to explore culturally responsive-sustaining education (CRSE). What does CRSE look like in classrooms and schools? How do CRSE and MBL interplay to benefit academic growth and well-being? What does CRSE call upon us to learn and unlearn? We'll look into these questions—and yours!—as we work with the three pillars of CRSE, and build capacity with key principles and practices of this powerful approach to an effective, affirming, learner-centered school. (new PLC focus)

Session Dates:  

Please plan to join all 5 PLC sessions. This will help us with building connections and following through in a collective learning space. Thank you!

1. Tuesday, October 24, (first meeting in person as part of our Fall Gathering)

2. Tuesday, November 28, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

3. Tuesday, February 13, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

4. Tuesday, March 12, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

5. Tuesday, May 21, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Webinar 13: Catalyzing Sustainable School Change 

Thursday, September 28, 2023

3:45 p.m - 4:45 p.m PST

In this webinar, we will explore how to catalyze lasting school change—starting with establishing clear direction and shared purpose, and building to transformative and sustained schoolwide shifts. We will discuss schoolwide professional learning, collaborative design sessions, professional learning communities, student and community forums, and other strategies to build schoolwide momentum and commitment to creating innovative learning environments that are just, rigorous, equitable, responsive, and welcoming. We will also talk about the role of your MBLC team as the engine of change at your school!

Outcomes:

• Explore examples of schools that built shared commitment to new approaches

• Build understanding of how the principles of design thinking can be used to shape school-wide engagement with new ideas

• Review protocols for PLCs and student and community forums

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda

• Webinar Slide deck

•  Watch the Recording! 

Webinar 12: Virtual Visit to Champlain Valley Union High School

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

3:45 p.m - 4:45 p.m PST

At this webinar, we will welcome presenters Emily Rinkema and Stan Williams from Champlain Valley Union High School (CVUHS) in Vermont. Emily and Stan have spent over a decade designing and improving the proficiency-based system of teaching and learning at CVUHS. Their book, The Standards-Based Classroom, is an essential resource for any educator who is interested in making this shift in their own classroom. 

Outcomes:

• Learn about how CVUHS designed a mastery-based learning system to change how we think about learning.

• Explore how CVUHS’ mastery-based system impacts teaching and learning for students and teachers.

• Learn next steps that educators in various roles can take to build on principles of at the heart of CVUHS' work.

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda

• Watch the Recording!

In-person Community Gathering

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 | 10:00 a.m -3:00 p.m.

Location: Highline College, 2400 S 240th St, Des Moines, WA 98198. 

Meet in Mt. Constance/Mt. Olympus Room at Highline College
View on Campus Map

This event is one of the 3 times each school year when all MBLC member school teams gather to to share and learn together. Please join us!

REGISTER ONLINE

Materials/Resources

• • • Participant Agenda
      
      

Featuring

• Speed round warmup conversations

• Panel of MBLC youth advisors

• Mini-electives on high-interest topics

• Team huddle time

• Pair share with another school
  
  

Who Should Attend?

1. Please register 3-4 members of your MBLC team* if you can—or a minimum of 2 MBLC team members who can share back to your full school team later. (We know you’ll need to hire subs that day!)

2. Puget Sound-area schools**: We invite you to bring 2-3 MBLC Youth Advisors to participate in a student panel at the gathering. 

• Please let us know each student panelist’s name/grade when you register. 

• Please invite your student panelists to participate in an online prep session for youth advisors on Wednesday, April 26, from noon to 1:15 pm. (Click to join with one adult ally from each participating school.) Thank you! 

Accessibility: Fully accessible space, with both ground-level entrance and elevators.

* If you’d like to bring more team members or have questions, please get in touch: joy@newlearningcollaborative.org and/or kgardoqui@greatschoolspartnership.org.

** All MBLC member schools are invited to bring youth advisors to participate in the youth panel at the Gathering—but we know Highline College is a long way to travel for schools in Eastern/Central Washington. We plan to hold our Spring 2024 Gathering in Central Washington, and hope to feature youth advisors from nearby schools. Please let us know what works best for you, your school, and your students. Thanks.

Youth Advisor Sessions

Session 3: Wednesday, April 26, 2023

NOON - 1:15 p.m. PST (note new date and earlier time, by popular request)

We warmly invite MBLC youth advisors Grades 5-12 (with one adult ally per school) to gather to share experiences and ideas! In this youth-centered, friendly space, we will talk about questions like:

• What do we want school to be like and feel like?

• How can school be a space of belonging and discovery for all students?

• How can we raise our voices to make meaningful change?

Let’s connect and learn from each other! All youth advisor meetings will be held online.

What will we do in our meetings?

• Share our ideas and hopes about school and school change

• Meet students from other schools in a warm and welcoming equitable space

• Build our equity lens and leadership skills

• Brainstorm about changes we hope to see—and how to spark change
  
  

• JANUARY 19: Prep for Winter Gathering “Role-Alike” youth advisor conversation at the Winter Community Gathering Tuesday January 24, 3:30-5:30 pm.
  
  

• APRIL 26: Prep for Youth Advisor Panel at the Spring Gathering Tuesday May 4, in person, 10 am - 3 pm at Highline College, Desmoines, WA.

Who should sign up?

• 2-3 youth advisors Grades 5-12 from your MBLC member school who will be giving your MBLC team feedback and guidance from a student perspective

• one adult ally who will accompany your youth advisors in the sessions and support their work with your MBLC team over the rest of the school year.

We strongly encourage inviting 2+ youth advisors to maximize youth comfort in the cross-school space; please avoid inviting just one youth advisor, for this reason.

Session Dates:

• Fall: Mon, October 24, 3:45-5 pm (past event)
  
  

• Winter: Thurs, January 19, NOON-1:15 pm
  
  

• Spring: Wednesday, April 26, NOON-1:15 pm
  (new date and earlier time, by popular request)

→ REGISTER HERE

Office Hours with a Great Schools Partnership (GSP) 

Thursday, March 30, 2023 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Log in for personalized support for with one of the Great Schools Partnership coaches (Kate Gardoqui, Clyde Cole, or Don Weafer)

Join our open Zoom meeting during any of the dates and times below.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://greatschoolspartnership.zoom.us/j/88249614036?pwd=QWo1dWhEdGMwaVB2T09DOVFmMm0rdz09

Meeting ID: 882 4961 4036

Passcode: 958206

Session Dates:  

• September: Weds 28, 3-4:30 pm

• October: Tues 11, 3-4:30 pm

• November: Mon 7, 3-4:30 pm

• December: Thurs 1, 3-4:30 pm

• January: Thurs 12, 3-4:30 pm

• February: Thurs 16, 3-4:30 pm

• March: Thurs 30, 3-4:30 pm

• April: Mon 24, 3-4:30 pm

• May: Thurs 18, 3-4:30 pm

• June: Thurs 1, 3-4:30 pm

Webinar 10: CRSE-MBL Assessments

Thursday, March 2, 2023

3:45 p.m - 4:45 p.m PST

In this webinar, we will focus on the features of culturally responsive-sustaining, mastery-based units and assessments. Using sample assessments from teachers in schools using CRSE-MBL approaches, we will explore how teachers can build learning experiences and performance tasks that allow students to show what they know through meaningful challenges and projects.

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda 

• Watch the Recording

School Leaders Community of Practice

Monday, February 13, 2023

9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m PST

→ REGISTER HERE (If you registered at the beginning of the year for this series, you do not need to register again.)

View the agenda

This quarterly meeting is where school leaders who are directing the MBL work at the school level will share successes, troubleshoot problems, and exchange resources. Guided by our dedication to educational equity, this Community of Practice will be a key part of our support system as we take this journey together. All meetings will be held virtually.

What will we do in our meetings?

• Share programs, documents, or policies and give feedback

• Discuss dilemmas/problems of practice

• Analyze student work generated in different schools

• Read or view and discuss resources together

Who should sign up?

• Principals in MBLC schools

• An additional person who is also taking a leadership role in your school’s MBLC group is welcome to join

Session Dates:

MBLC members who sign up for the Community of Practice will be asked to commit to all 4 meeting dates.

1. Weds, October 12, 9:30-11 am (new date)

2. Tues, December 6, 9:30-11 am

3. Mon, Feb 13, 9:30-11 am

4. Tues, April 25, 9:30-11 am 

Winter Community Gathering [online]

Tuesday, January 24, 2023  |  3:30 - 5:30 pm PST * 

This event is one of the 3 times each school year when all the MBLC member school teams gather to share and learn together. 

Who should attend?

Please register your whole MBLC team if you can—or a minimum of 2 MBLC team members who can share back to your full school team later. If your team has youth advisors, please invite 2-3 youth advisors, also. Thanks.

Featuring: 

• Speed round warmup conversations

• “Role alike” conversations

• Mini-electives on high-interest topics

• Team huddle time
  
  

Materials/Resources

• Participant Agenda

• Slides

• Mini Electives Resources and Zoom Recordings

1. Mastery-based Crediting
   What is mastery-based crediting (MBC)? What are the guidelines? How are member schools using MBC? - with Alissa Muller from SBE, Sui-lan Ho’okano from Enumclaw HS, & Robin Pratt from Auburn HS & Clyde facilitating

   • Watch the Recording
     
     

2. Top Ten Resources from Competency Collaborative
   What’s there? How could we use these resources? - with Joy

   • Competency Collaborative's Greatest Hits: Top 10 resources
     
     

3. MBLC School Journey: Steps to Implementation
   The most frequently-asked question from MBLC schools is, “what are the steps to transitioning to CRSE-MBL practices? What should we do first?” This new MBLC resource provides some answers, with a focus on the ongoing work of building shared commitments among all school community members.

   • • MBLC School Journey - Steps to Implementation

     • Watch the Recording

• • 1. 1. 1. 1. • Removing Punishments and Rewards from Grading
                  Getting punishments and rewards out of grading, while supporting students to develop effective work habits - with Don 

                  1. • Text and resource links

                     • Watch the Recording

* New after-school time: We're moving this gathering to after-school, to honor member schools' many commitments, and to maximize member schools' attendance at this event.