Mastery-based Learning Collaborative

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Please direct all questions to: 

  • Alissa Muller, Director of Policy
  • Seema Bahl, Associate Director of the Mastery-based Learning Collaborative  

This page provides information about the state’s Mastery-based Learning Collaborative (MBLC) project. For background on Washington mastery-based learning work, visit the MBL page.

Mastery Based Learning in Washington Logo

 

In 2021, the Washington State Mastery-based Learning Collaborative (MBLC) was launched, led by the State Board of Education with support from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Professional Educator Standards Board.

The project aims to:

  • Showcase effective practices for implementing culturally responsive and sustaining Mastery-based Learning (MBL).
  • Develop and share tools and resources to support educators in adopting an MBL approach.
  • Provide professional learning opportunities for teachers, principals, counselors, and other in-service educators.

The broader purpose of the MBLC is to guide future policy by offering insights into what high-quality MBL looks like, the time required for implementation, and the resources needed for success.

At the local level, the initiative is empowering participating schools to accelerate their transition to MBL, fostering a more equitable and meaningful educational experience for every student.

Friends of Mastery Collaborative

Outside of the normal grant application period, schools are welcome to inquire about joining the Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative as a school eligible for full participation in professional learning events, individualized coaching at the school level, and potential school grant funding. Depending on the availability of funding and SBE’s assessment of a school’s readiness to participate at the time of the school’s inquiry, SBE will determine whether an inquiring school may join. If SBE determines that the school is not eligible for funding, the school is welcome to join the Friends of MBLC interest group, which includes access to professional learning webinars and online materials but does not include school grant funding.

Friends of Mastery Collaborative are not members but have a 100 percent opt-in connection to the MBLC community. Joining Friends of MBLC is a low-stakes way to stay connected and have access to MBLC offerings. This may be a good fit for schools that want to explore MBL and culturally responsive-sustaining education (CRSE) shifts informally or exploratorily. Friends of MBLC stay connected with the MBLC community by receiving the MBLC newsletter about once a month. This newsletter will provide notices of space available to join some PL opportunities such as visits to schools and online sessions. Friends of MBLC do not attend Quarterly Meetings (gatherings of practitioners in member schools) and will receive no grant funding from the MBLC Program.

We welcome you to join our interest group!

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Participating Schools

Timeline for Cohort 1 grantee schools:

  • Spring 2022: Planning period
  • 2022-2023: First professional learning year
  • 2023-2024: MBL implementation begins at the building level
  • 2024-2025: Final grant year

Timeline for Cohort 2 grantee schools:

  • Spring 2024: Planning period
  • 2024-2025: First professional learning year

View All Cohort 1 Schools

School District/area

School(s)

Cohort 1

 

Auburn School District

Auburn High School

Elma School District

Elma Elementary, Elma Middle School, East Grays
Harbor High School

Enumclaw School District

Enumclaw High School

Franklin Pierce School District

GATES High School

Highline Public Schools

Highline Big Picture, Maritime High School,
CHOICE Academy, Innovation Heights Academy

La Conner School District

La Conner Middle-High School

Lind-Ritzville School District

Lind-Ritzville Middle/High School

Moses Lake School District

Vanguard Academy

Northshore School District

Innovation Lab High School

Olympia School District

Avanti High School

Puyallup School District

Edgemont Junior High School

Quincy School District

Quincy Innovation Academy

Tumwater School District

Tumwater Middle School

West Valley School District (#208)

West Valley Innovation Center in Yakima,
Middle Level
Campus
View All Cohort 2 Schools

School District/area

School(s)

Cohort 2

 

Bremerton

Catalyst Public Schools

Issaquah School District

Gibson Ek High School

Nespelem School District

Nespelem High School

Seattle

Rainier Valley Leadership Academy

Mukilteo School District

Sno-Isle Skills Center

West Valley School District
(Spokane)

Dishman Hills High School

Vancouver Public School
District

Hudson's Bay High School, Open Doors at Heights
Campus

Methow Valley School
District

Methow Valley Independent Learning Center

North Thurston Public
Schools

Envision Career Academy, Summit Virtual Academy

West Valley School District

Cottonwood Elementary School

Federal Way Public Schools

Career Academy at Truman High School, Open Doors
Youth Reengagement (1418) at Truman Campus

Tumwater School District

Tumwater High School, A.G. West Black Hills High
School

Marysville School District

Tulalip Heritage School, Legacy High School

North Mason School District

 James A. Taylor High School

Wenatchee

 Pinnacles Prep

Peninsula School District

Discovery, Minter Creek, and Purdy Elementary

Lopez Island School District

Lopez Island schools

Definitions

  • Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE): Culturally responsive-sustaining education is grounded in a cultural view of learning and human development in which multiple expressions of diversity (e.g., race, social class, gender, language, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, ability) are recognized and regarded as assets for teaching and learning. CRSE explores the relationship between historical and contemporary conditions of inequality and ideas that shape access, participation, and outcomes for learners.
  • Mastery-based Learning: The state defined mastery-based learning (MBL) in 2019 E2SHB 1599 (Sec. 301):
    • Students advance upon demonstrated mastery of content;
    • Competencies include explicit, measurable, transferable learning objectives that empower students;
    • Assessments are meaningful and a positive learning experience for students;
    • Students receive rapid, differentiated support based on their individual learning needs; and
    • Learning outcomes emphasize competencies that include application and creation of knowledge along with the development of important skills and dispositions.
  • Culturally Responsive-Sustaining (CRS) Mastery-based Learning (MBL): CRS MBL means MBL implemented in a CRS way.

MBLC Newsletters

Resources