Glossary

Terms:

Learn Everywhere (LE)

Learn Everywhere policies create a path for students to earn course credit for quality learning opportunities that take place out of traditional school settings. This could be done through on-the-job experience, community-hosted performing arts, competing in club athletics, participating in a robotics club, and infinite other opportunities that allow students to learn through doing. 

Mastery/Competency

States apply different definitions to the terms competency, proficiency, and mastery. While there are technical nuances, the terms are often used interchangeably.  The competency icon on the state maps refer to whether a state has adopted a method (however defined), through application or waiver, to evaluate whether a student has earned credit for learning other than the Carnegie unit.   

Seat Time

Seat time, or the Carnegie unit system was developed in 1906, and is a traditional model of awarding academic credit in secondary schools based on a defined minimum amount of instructional time in a subject area. Under the system, students must be seated in a class for specific number of hours in order to receive course credit – measuring time spent in a classroom rather than what students have actually learned or failed to learn. This is true regardless of prior knowledge, skills, or experiences. The time-based system does not facilitate real-time data on student progress, and creates artificial barriers to completion for non-traditional students, disconnected youth, students with disabilities, and accelerated learners.

Middle School (LE)

Middle school is defined as an intermediate between an elementary school and a high school, typically for children in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.

High School (LE)

High school is defined as a school that typically comprises grades nine through twelve, attended after primary school or middle school.

State Designations:

Learn Everywhere State

Learn Everywhere legislation with a state-wide approval process option for program providers.

Limited Learn Everywhere State

Learn Everywhere legislation however, local education agencies (LEAs) define the approval process for program providers.

No Learn Everywhere (Credit Options) State

No current Learn Everywhere legislation. The general student population has limited opportunities to earn non-classroom based credit beyond career technical education, dual enrollment and work-based programs.

No Learn Everywhere (Community Service) State

No current Learn Everywhere legislation. The opportunity for the general student population to earn out-of-school credit is mostly limited to community service opportunities.

No Learn Everywhere State

No current Learn Everywhere legislation. No opportunity for the general student population to earn out-of-school credit.