In a country where only one-third of students are rated proficient on national math and reading tests, more than 1 million drop out of high school annually, and the percentage of higher education students enrolled in remedial class might be as high as 60 percent, governors are at the forefront to help solve those and other problems by implementing new systems such as competency-based education (CBE), according to a paper released today by the National Governors Association (NGA).

Governors are the only policymakers to oversee the entire pipeline of policies and resources for their state’s education systems, making them well-positioned to lead discussions in improving education. Expanding Student Success: A Primer on Competency-Based Education from Kindergarten through Higher Education examines ways governors can support and expand CBE at the state and local levels.

In a CBE system, every student advances based on his or her demonstrated mastery of specified knowledge and skills, in contrast to traditional models, which advance students based on a specified amount of class time. Research suggests that CBE can play a role in helping more elementary and secondary students meet higher standards of learning and become better prepared for college or a career training program. Once in higher education, CBE allows for older students (traditional-age college students or adult learners) to learn on their own time, at their own pace.

Governors interested in CBE should explore the following policy areas:

• The role of the educator and opportunities for learning;
• Assessment and accountability; and
• Repurposing funding.

To learn more about the NGA Center for Best Practices Education Division, please visit http://www.nga.org/cms/center/edu.