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Pioneers of Personalized Education
Westminster Public Schools and the Pursuit of Competency-Based Learning
Competency-based learning drives meaningful transformation in education. Explore the Westminster Public Schools learning model, emphasizing vision, leadership, foundational practices, learner-centered classrooms, data-driven improvement, and the High Reliability Schools process.
A blueprint for competency-based learning
Westminster Public Schools (WPS) in Colorado has embarked on a transformative journey toward competency-based education. Through strategic planning and continuous improvement, WPS developed a learner-centered system prioritizing personalized learning and student agency. Their road map—rooted in shared vision and second-order change—highlights successes and challenges, offering insights on scheduling, school leadership, and systems to guide others in achieving high reliability and impactful school reform.
K–12 school and district leaders can use this book to:
- Understand a sustainable framework that supports continued growth and development
- Envision schools and classrooms as spaces that prioritize students and their learning experiences
- Learn how teachers, students, and the community can each have a meaningful voice in the operation of schools and districts
- Discover new systems for competency-based instruction, assessment, grading, and reporting
- Cultivate a vision for navigating transition and change
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Additional Information
"It is refreshing to read about one district's journey through High Reliability Schools implementation. While Dr. Marzano's work is critical to creating a school system that is focused on continuous improvement, it is equally critical to share our implementation of the framework with colleagues. This book is an extremely useful tool to help districts navigate their own personalized journey!"
"What an exciting read! The demands of education is rapidly changing, and we are all struggling to figure out what students need to meet the needs of the rapidly changing demands of education. Westminster Public Schools has figured it out. Pioneers of Personalized Education takes educators and board members through a practical step-by-step process to successfully impact change in education. I have been following Marzano's work for a few years and have always struggled with how all of the pieces (New Art and Science of Teaching, HRS, Focused Teacher Evaluation Model, etc.) fit together. Pioneers of Personalized Education integrates all of the high-impact tools into a practical framework. The process to become a PCBS was not rushed. The Westminster Public School system understands the value of taking time to do things the right way."
"I really enjoyed the book, and I will definitely be applying the work to my role. As a public educator for over 30 years, I know the value of learning from trailblazing districts that lead the way in continuous improvement. Westminster Public Schools is one of those pioneers, and Pioneers of Personalized Education offers a powerful roadmap for education leaders committed to building high-reliability systems through personalized, competency-based learning. I would recommend this book to any educator ready to begin this purposeful and transformative journey. As a longtime leader in public education, I found Pioneers of Personalized Education affirming, inspiring, and energizing. Westminster Public Schools’ transformative journey toward personalized, competency-based learning offers a clear, practical playbook for making this work achievable, scalable, and sustainable. This book is rich with insight into the iterative nature of the change process and includes practical resources for any educator ready to begin this purposeful and transformative journey."
