On Wednesday, U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, introduced the Competency-Based Education Act of 2023, a bill which would codify the Department of Education’s regulations governing the eligibility of programs that emphasize competency-based education.
According to the news release, CBE is a “pedagogical model that focuses on a student’s mastery of a subject through demonstrated skills and real-world performance, rather than by time in a classroom.”
This legislation, which was written with bipartisan support, would make CBE federal law, fully highlighting the importance of CBE programs as “recognized, viable alternatives to other traditional higher education programs.”
“A ‘one size fits all’ approach to education leaves too many behind. Our bill helps higher education institutions meet students where they are. Treating them as individuals ensures more of them will graduate,” Hickenlooper said.
Romney noted the importance of having legislation that helps prepare students for their future.
“As a society, we must ensure that people from all walks of life have the skills and training necessary for the jobs of the future,” Romney said. “This legislation is one way Congress can take to make it easier for Americans to learn specific skills and get well-paying jobs without accruing mountains of debt. Importantly, it also affirms Utah’s own Western Governors University as a model for competency-based education.”
On Wednesday, both senators hosted a panel discussing the impacts of higher education on the workforce. They discussed the roles of innovation and technology in education, workforce shortages and skill gaps as well as bipartisan collaboration on workforce development legislation.
