The
UEA Board Position on Competency-Based Education
Overwhelming
evidence supports the fact that Utah’s public schools and
educators are doing an excellent job despite many challenges. These
challenges include large class sizes, changing demographics and
inadequate funding. UEA believes that the concept of Competency-Based
Education holds promise for improving student achievement—particularly
when coupled with strong parental support. We also believe that
policymakers must come to understand that Utah students deserve
more in terms of financial support and support for policies and
programs based on educationally-sound rationale.
Therefore,
UEA supports a move to Competency-Based Education that includes
these components:
-
Funding for teacher salaries and compensation must increase with
increased expectations and responsibilities resulting from Competency-Based
Education.
- Additional,
on-going, guaranteed funding must be in place before implementation
of Competency-Based Education is begun.
- Interventions
which are appropriate, effective and timely must be funded and
available for all students who don’t meet standards.
-
Holding students accountable for basic skills mastery must occur
at all levels including elementary school.
- The
time frame for initiation and implementation needs to allow for
development of a sound program.
- Programs
to implement the components of Competency-Based Education must
be designed locally to meet the needs of each individual district
and school.
- Those
who work directly with students must be on the decision-making
teams for planning and implementation at both state and district
levels.
- A
full program of elective classes must remain available to all
students.
- There
must be a clear alignment between Competency-Based Education and
other national and state reform efforts (i.e. ESEA, UPASS).
- The
needs and capabilities of all students must be taken into consideration.
