“One consistent finding of academic research is that high expectations are the most reliable driver of high student achievement, even in students who do not have a history of successful achievement.”
-Doug Lemov
Proficiency-Based Learning is a key component of flexible and personalized pathways set forth in Act 77 and the State Board of Education’s Education Quality Standards. Vermont public schools must provide students with flexible and personalized pathways for progressing through grade levels and to graduation. These resources can help educators and families understand some of the changes that are taking place in Vermont schools.
Section List
Spotlights on Equity Resources
What is Proficiency-Based Learning?
Proficiency-Based Learning and Project-Based Learning Connections
Vermont Agency of Education Briefs
Proficiency-Based Grading Practices and Transcripts
Vermont Stories: The Road to Implementation of Proficiency-Based Learning
Proficiency-Based Learning Commentaries/Articles
Proficiency-Based Learning Resources
Organizations that Support Proficiency-Based Learning
Spotlights on Equity Resources
Educational equity means that every student has access to the resources, opportunities, and educational rigor they need at the right moment in their education, whatever their race, gender/identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, language, ability, family background, or family income may be. (Adapted from CCSSO, Leading for Equity) The Spotlights on Equity Resources below provide a list of considerations and resources for the purpose of supporting equity and access across content areas, emphasizing high quality and culturally sustaining learning opportunities for all students.
- English Language Arts: Spotlight on Equity Resources
- Financial Literacy: Spotlight on Equity Resources
- Health Education: Spotlight on Equity Resources
- Mathematics: Spotlight on Equity Resources
- Performing Arts: Spotlight on Equity Resources
- Physical Education: Spotlight on Equity Resources
- Science and STEM Education: Spotlight on Equity Resources
- Social Studies: Spotlight on Equity Resources
- Visual Arts: Spotlight on Equity Resources
- World Language: Spotlight on Equity Resources
Vermont Student Voices
What if Every Learner Was Empowered to Choose Their Own Path?
Building a Big Dream in a Tiny House: Reflections from a Harbor Freight Fellow
How One Aspiring Aviator is Making Do with Social Distancing
What is Proficiency-Based Learning?
The focus of proficiency-based learning is on students’ demonstration of desired learning outcomes. Students gain the skills, abilities, and knowledge required in an area of study, along with those necessary to be successful in college, career and civic life. Proficiency-based learning is designed to identify and address gaps to provide equitable learning opportunities for every student. This is in contrast to traditional systems which advance students based on seat time. Read more about “What is proficiency-based learning?”.
Proficiency-Based Learning and Project-Based Learning Connections
Project-based learning is a “teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge” (PBL Works). Learn more about the approach and how it aligns with proficiency-based learning through the ongoing Project-Based Learning document series. Readers are encouraged to interact with the documents following the order found in this Project-Based Learning Document Sequence and listed here:
- Project-Based Learning Document Sequence
- Project-Based Learning: A Student-Centered Approach
- Project-Based Learning: An Interdisciplinary Approach
- Essential Components for Implementing Project-Based Learning
- Project-Based Learning in Remote Learning Environments
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Assessing Project-Based Learning: An Integral Part of Local Comprehensive Assessment Systems
Foundations of Project-Based Learning: Facilitator’s Guides
Members of the Agency of Education’s (AOE) Proficiency-Based Learning Team designed and delivered a professional learning (PL) series – Foundations of Project-Based Learning – to support Vermont educators in developing the knowledge and skills needed to begin shifting their instruction to a Project-Based Learning (PjBL) approach. More information on the PL can be found online. Information on and recommendations for delivering a similar PL series on PjBL can be found below: