During the 2023-24 school year, Intermediate Units began the process of finding and interviewing school districts on the topic of student-centered learning. Many schools from across the Commonwealth shared their stories with us and we then published those stories in an online publication. Continuing into the 2024-25 school year, the project has grown into a virtual network of educators and schools that are willing to share and wanting to learn more about student-centered learning. If this all sounds interesting to you please read the sections below on how you can get involved in this network or schedule a visit to a PA school that has started down this path.

How can we create learning environments that empower students to thrive, explore their passions, and reach their full potential? Pennsylvania is committing to dismantling systems that prevent evidence-based learning from being implemented in schools. Through a statewide movement that has been taking shape over the last two years, educators across the commonwealth are driving student-centered learning (SCL) forward across classrooms, districts, state agencies, and networks.

In Pennsylvania, SCL is defined as an approach that places students at the core of the learning process, emphasizing personalized instruction that meets individual needs, competencies, and interests. This method shifts the traditional focus from teacher-led instruction to one where students actively engage in setting learning goals, assessing progress, and taking ownership of their educational experience.

Rooted in the principles of competency-based education (CBE), SCL in Pennsylvania encourages a flexible learning pace, the use of real-world, project-based experiences, and critical thinking and collaboration, all aimed at preparing students for success beyond the classroom. This definition aligns with the Aurora Institute’s CBE framework, which Pennsylvania’s Department of Education has adapted in the process of conceptualizing a state-specific approach to SCL.

Taken from Pennsylvania’s Journey Towards Student-Centered Learning: Building a Collaborative Statewide Movement

CompetencyWorks Blog

December 19, 2024

Author(s): Josh Ecker, Kylie Hand

Issue(s): Aurora Institute, Lead Change and Innovation

Link to the full article

Why do some educational practices resonate deeply with students, while others fall flat? How can we create learning environments that empower students to thrive, explore their passions, and reach their full potential? These questions lie at the heart of Unleashing Learner Potential, a Pennsylvania-centric resource comprising a comprehensive collection of stories and practices that illuminate the transformative power of student-centered learning.

At its core, these stories were created with a clear purpose—to illuminate and drive conversation

amongst educators to increase collaboration and a shared understanding of the tools, strategies, and insights necessary to cultivate student-centered teaching and learning in our modern world. We firmly believe that education should not be a passive experience but an active journey of discovery, where students become the architects of their own learning.

Pennsylvania's comprehensive Blueprint for student-centered learning envisions a

transformative approach to K-12 education that represents the Commonwealth's value

system of quality education. This Blueprint outlines specific goals encompassing academic

achievement, access, student well-being, and college and career readiness by creating a

more cohesive and coordinated approach to student-centered learning in Pennsylvania. At

its core, the vision of the Student-Centered Learning Blueprint emphasizes personalized,

inquiry-based instruction that prioritizes student agency and engagement as a facilitated

self-assessment aligned to state-wide standards, school improvement, and other

initiatives across Pennsylvania. You can find the Blueprint on OERcommons.org and then search for PA Student-Centered Learning Blueprint.

The PA Student-Centered Learning Network's mission is to create a Pennsylvania where all learners flourish in student-centered environments.

2024-25 Meeting Dates: October 15, 1-3pm; January 21, 1-3pm; March 6, 9-11am; June 5, 9-11am

Where: Virtual via Zoom

Audience: All PA LEA educators interested in student-centered learning

Purpose: Connect with others who have shared interest and experience in transforming school systems, exchanging resources, encouraging innovative practices, & learning together.

This is one registration for all future PA SCL meetings. By submitting this form, you agree to allow PA SCL to contact you using the information provided.

We would be thrilled to have you join us for our 2024-2025 PASCL Network meetings!

Here is the link to register for these networking sessions.