Competency-Based Education Policy Across the Nation
This map examines state policy related to portraits of a graduate, also sometimes referred to as profiles of a learner. The map identifies whether a public state-level portrait exists that addresses both academic and durable skills. It also includes states that require systems to develop local-level portraits that meet similar criteria.
Does the state have state-level and/or require local-level Portrait of a Graduates (or similar visioning document) that are readily, publicly available and that address both academic and durable skills?
Yes
No (with exception)
No
This map indicates whether a state has developed a learning framework aligned to a portrait of a graduate, also sometimes referred to as a profile of a learner. This learning framework, typically captured as a set of competencies and progressions, expresses interrelated knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are relevant, measurable, and transferable and that can be applied throughout a learner’s lifetime.
Does the state have a set of learning frameworks and/or goals (e.g., competencies) that are aligned to its PoG (or similar visioning document)?
Yes
No (with exception)
No
This map examines one part of a state’s graduation requirements. Specifically, it identifies whether a state’s graduation requirements are directly informed by a state’s portrait of a graduate, also sometimes referred to as a portrait of a learner.
Does the state have graduation requirements that are informed by the PoG (or similar visioning document)?
Yes
No (with exception)
No
This map examines one part of a state’s graduation requirements. Specifically, it identifies whether a state allows learners to earn credits by demonstrating competency at a time, place, and pace of their choosing. It specifically captures opportunities to earn credit beyond simple course completion.
Does the state allow learners to progress towards graduation (e.g. accumulating credits) through demonstrations of competency?
Yes
No (with exception)
No
This map identifies whether a state has a definition of instructional time (or an analogous term) that explicitly includes out of school time and/or other student-centered learning opportunities. Where applicable, the map includes relevant definitions.
Does the state’s definition of instructional time (or an analogous term) explicitly include out of school and/or other student-centered learning opportunities?
Yes
No (with exception)
No
This map identifies whether each state has policy in place that provides schools or school districts with waivers or exemptions from certain rules, regulations, and statutes to support innovative or competency-based practices.
Does the state have exemptions or waivers to grant schools and/or systems flexibilities from statute or regulation that would facilitate innovative and competency-based education approaches?
Yes
No (with exception)
No
This map identifies whether each state has policy to support a school or district-level pilot or network of schools focused on the implementation of competency-based education. The map also includes some information around previous pilots or networks that are no longer active.
Does the state have a competency-based pilot or network that specifically facilitates the spread of competency-based education?
Yes
No (with exception)
No
This map identifies whether a state has a specific funding opportunity, such as a grant, to encourage schools and districts to implement competency-based education. The map also includes some information around previous funding opportunities made available in states that may not be active.
Does the state provide specific funding opportunities such as grants to encourage schools and districts to take up competency-based education?
Yes
No (with exception)
No
This map provides a snapshot, as of May 2025, of state-level K-12 education policies that support K-12 competency-based education (CBE) at the school and district levels. While these policy areas are not the only ones that matter for school and district implementation, our experience suggests they are some of the most crucial. This map will be updated as needed as we learn of new state policy developments.
Discover, engage, and advance education transformation
The Competency-Based Education Policy Across the Nation map is a partnership between the Aurora Institute and KnowledgeWorks. Together, we aim to lift up state-level policy innovation in service of K-12 systems transformation toward student-centered learning.
Our Resources
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