Measuring unfinished learning requires a strategic measurement process that starts with reviewing data, creating strong research questions, and collecting data. This process will help make connections between learning mastery and enabling structures that support student growth.
Analyzing and making sense of your data will allow you to find and interpret patterns, creating opportunities to develop meaningful and sustainable plans to address unfinished learning.
At the classroom level, to address unfinished learning, educators need to implement strategies that accelerate individual learners’ growth and progress, adapt to their differences, and build on their academic, social, and physical strengths. This guide shares ways in which schools and systems can support educators in implementing practices and strategies to address these needs.
Although long-term, systemic inequities ultimately need to be addressed, unfinished learning presents an immediate challenge. In the short term, schools and districts can organize their current systems around learner-centered principles and implement evidence-based strategies to meet students’ needs.
This chart can be used to help determine if you have the necessary data to measure learner growth. Research or data teams can use the flowchart to self-assess and determine whether it is possible to measure unfinished learning or if a different approach might be more appropriate.
The Aurora Institute’s new broad-based policy agenda issues a call-to-action for state education policymakers and provides twelve recommendations informed by the wisdom and expertise of more than 8,500 members in its community. Taken together, the policy priorities challenge lawmakers and education decision-makers to wield their influence and take advantage of existing opportunities to disrupt the traditional one-size-fits-all model of K-12 teaching and learning and unleash learning from the confines of place and time. The priorities include:
Download our 2022 state policy recommendations for a full analysis of these issues. Policymakers at all levels are encouraged to contact the Aurora Institute Center for Policy for more information or assistance.
Strong relationships and communication with families (including parents, guardians, and other adults at home) is a vital and often under-utilized force for students’ ongoing success, especially when learning occurs in a virtual setting. Explore this guide to learn more about this and tangible ways systems are building these bridges and strategic supports for families as partners in their students’ education.
High schools can offer early college credit and dual enrollment to students to give them a head start on their post-secondary pathway.
My Tech High created an Informational video to share with families that describes the options for students to earn early college credit while still in high school.
Gem Prep Online offers this detailed planner for students to map out their courses over their six years (grades 7-12) at the school. This planner also displays the tracks high school students will need to take in order to complete either 18 college credits or an Associate degree by the time they complete high school.
