Charter schools are, by definition, public institutions. And in 2022, almost 4 million students attended American charter schools; 84% of them were students of color. In an age where choice and freedom are at the heart of the country’s political and social focus, it makes sense that increased freedom to choose where our kids get equitably and appropriately educated according to their individual needs is too.
Competency-based learning (CBL) supports student success by allowing learners to progress at their own pace, focusing on the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills. In CBL, students demonstrate mastery of a topic before moving on to the next one, rather than advancing based on time spent in class or credit hours earned.
Because of the flexible learning environment, including pacing and personalized support, the NCB model can be a good fit for students who are either struggling or advanced, or really anything in between. In California alone, there are just under 300 NCB charter schools operating today.