2017 Condition of Education Action Guide

A key piece of our Condition of Education in the Commonwealth report, the Action Guide provides research-informed recommendations for statewide actions—policies, investments, and expansion of best practices—that have potential to address performance gaps and contribute to broad improvement in student outcomes. In our last two Condition of Education Action Guides, we called on the Commonwealth to consider education more holistically, noting that schools should not—and cannot— work in isolation and that each child’s education encompasses more than academic learning.

Key Indicators

Data Dashboard

Student-centered learning presents an opportunity to make progress against the large and persistent gaps in learning. A high-quality early education is often characterized by personalized and individualized approaches; access to quality early education translates to a solid foundation for academic and social-emotional development. Chronic absenteeism is often considered a proxy for student engagement; student-centered approaches has been documented to promote student engagement, a key ingredient in fostering student success. As students enter high school and tackle rigorous academic content in 9th grade, differentiated and personalized approaches become even more important in light of students meeting critical academic milestones. Nearly a third of the Commonwealth’s public high school graduates require developmental coursework once they enroll in public higher education institutions; a more student-centered system would offer varied, engaging pathways to meet postsecondary goals.

Key Ingredients for Student-Centered Approach

Equipping Educators to Lead Student-Centered Instruction: Educators need support and training to implement SCL techniques, particularly if the principles are new or inconsistent with their current practice. The Commonwealth and individual districts can empower more educators to implement SCL by providing several types of support.

Empower School Leaders in Student-Centered Models: Cultivating a true SCL environment requires a concerted, collaborative effort among educators, with school and district leaders playing a crucial role. Placing students at the center of decision-making requires teachers and administrators to be responsive to their needs, and schools must similarly be empowered by the district. School and district leaders can create the conditions for student-centered learning in several ways.

Establish New Roles and Systems for All: Expanded learning requires new ways of looking at curriculum, instruction, assessment and a whole host of structures and systems that support effective collaboration with community partners and personalization of learning pathways for students. Traditional roles and systems can transform dramatically in the process.

Policy Recommendations