Introduction

Welcome to Learner-Centered Collaborative's Playbook on Competency-Based Assessment, Grading and Reporting. This resource illuminates what is often a black box - how schools and districts are shifting away from traditional grading practices to ones that better align with and support learner-centered, competency-based education. Through interviews with dozens of schools and districts at various stages of implementing competency-based practices, along with insights from supporting organizations and edtech providers, we've compiled key learnings, models, and guidance to help your system thoughtfully approach the adaptive and technical changes involved in redesigning your assessment and reporting structures.

While assessment and grading is just one piece of the larger shift to learner-centered education, it is often a sticking point, with traditional practices living in tension with the overall vision. By making the alternatives concrete and visible, we hope to support your community in moving forward with changes that enable authentic, personalized, equitable and inclusive learning experiences for all.

Part 1: Introduction will explore the challenges with traditional grading and reporting, the shifts involved in moving to a competency-based approach, and the impact these changes can have on learners, families and educators. It will provide key terminology and foundational concepts to anchor your understanding as you explore the rest of the Playbook.