Florida's "bottom-up" approach to personalized learning is moving from planning stages to real changes in the classroom, according to a new report by the reform advocacy group ExcelinEd.

The report follows up on last year's look at three states that enacted policies to promote personalization. It noted Florida's approach is somewhat unique, because it's allowing different school districts, as well as a university lab school, to pick their own approaches to personalized learning and its close cousin, competency-based learning.

Competency-based learning gives students the opportunity to advance to higher levels of learning based on their mastery of the topic rather than the amount of time they spend in class.

A 2016 law created a competency-based learning pilot program for the Pinellas, Palm Beach, Seminole County school districts, as well as the University of Florida's P.K. Yonge Development Research School. It allows them to apply to the Florida Department of Education for waivers from state regulations that might stand in their way.  A fourth district, Lake County, has backed away from the initiative. (more…)