Competency-Based Education in Michigan: Survey Findings. Policy Brief

The state of Michigan is increasing its commitment to deeper learning strategies to transform classroom instruction and learning through a competency-based approach to education. Competency-based education (CBE) is a school-based shift in teaching and learning designed to give students individualized support and opportunities to advance based on their own levels of mastery. Section 21j of the 2017-2018 School Aid Act allocated $500,000 in grants to seven pilot districts for the design and implementation of CBE programs, with an additional $500,000 in the 2018-19 school year. The pilot program afforded participating districts flexibility in instructional requirements, allowing them to implement CBE practices. The Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC) at Michigan State University partnered with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to conduct a multi-year study of the implementation of CBE in the 21 pilot districts. This brief presents findings from surveys administered to teachers and students in the 21J pilot districts during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.