Why We Implement a Competency-Based Education Program (And You Should, Too!)

At the Delphi Academy of Santa Monica, all students reach full competency within a subject area at his or her individual pace. Students are able to progress at their own personal speed through their individualized learning program to ensure full understanding, practicality and application.

In traditional classroom settings, teachers generally teach to a third of the class. One third is beyond the material and is therefore disengaged, one third has not yet gained the competency to learn the new material and therefore feels confused and stressed, and the remaining third is at the appropriate level to be learning the given information.

The Delphi Academy of Santa Monica believes that all students should be able to learn at their own pace. By promoting a competency based education, Delphi Academy of Santa Monica is ensuring that all students have a full understanding of the information they are learning and can also apply it in a hands-on, real world application.

Shortly after enrollment, every Delphi student works with the faculty to create a study program based on his or her interests, strengths and weaknesses, as determined in the interviews and through diagnostic testing. Beyond the basic curriculum, students have the freedom to choose their supplemental courses within the scope of his or her personal interests to ensure that they are engaged in a rewarding educational experience.

While the Delphi Academy of Santa Monica is still run on a yearly school calendar, students are not limited to one academic level per year. Students complete their education individually at their own speed and can progress as fast or slow as they need in order to gain a full applicable understanding.

A competency-based education garners student engagement, full comprehension, and informative practicality. While the Delphi Academy of Santa Monica has always applied a competency-based curriculum, more and more educational programs around the country are beginning to also adopt the method. A recent article by PBS has stated that grades may be a thing of the past as schools around the country are becoming competency-based supporters.