Competency-based education (CBE) is a strategy that can improve access, success, quality and affordability of higher education. However, more evidence is needed to build the case for CBE and demonstrate the value for postsecondary learners. To that end, the American Institutes of Research and the Institute for Competency-Based Education at Texas A&M University developed a preliminary framework for measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of CBE programs.
The framework proposes a series of metrics across three domains:
- Access
- Price/affordability
- Success and quality
Each of the metrics is further identified as either a “within-CBE program” metric, an “across-CBE program” metric or an “across-field” metric to indicate how each can be used to measure program quality at either the program or systems level. The framework is a critical resource that attempts to define and measure the value of CBE at the postsecondary level.
