WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-sponsored the Competency-Based Education Act, legislation to provide U.S. colleges and universities with a framework to accelerate student success through competency-based education (CBE) programs. The CBE approach allows an institution to assess what a student knows through mastering the subject matter rather than the amount of time the student spends in the classroom.

“We should not assume that one way of teaching will reach all students,” said Rep. Owens. “Competency-based education models are popular because they put students in the driver’s seat by evaluating skills rather than time spent in the classroom. I am proud to support this learner-centered legislation to help Utah students reach their full potential.” 

Specifically, the Competency-Based Education Act would: 

• Define CBE programs and creates a new academic year definition for the purposes of CBE programs based on competencies rather than credit hours or time.
• Allow for CBE programs that use a subscription model to be treated as term-based when establishing payment periods.
• Designate CBE as an eligible program under Title IV of the Higher Education Act to be evaluated and approved by a recognized accrediting agency, thus making them eligible for federal financial aid.

The full text of the bill is available here.

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