KnowledgeWorks and Valley City State University (VCSU) have announced a new partnership to advance personalized, competency-based learning across North Dakota. This partnership marks a significant milestone for students and educators, ensuring the long-term sustainability of learner-centered education in the state.
Background
Through a $1 million legislative investment in 2025, the North Dakota Intermediary for Innovative Education has been established at VCSU, positioning the university as the hub for professional learning, educator collaboration, and learner-centered practice statewide.
North Dakota takes a significant step forward in education with the partnership between @KnowledgeWorks and @ValleyCityStateU, aiming to create a statewide hub for competency-based, personalized learning.
Impact
Personalized, competency-based learning has already had a measurable impact in the state of North Dakota, starting with four pilot districts in 2018. Evidence from those classrooms and statewide data suggests increased student agency, engagement, and readiness, supported by new measures that extend beyond traditional test scores.
As the North Dakota Personalized Learning Network enters its next phase, we’re proud to serve as its permanent home and to help bring learner-centered education to all North Dakota students.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Future Plans
Looking ahead, KnowledgeWorks will continue as a strategic partner for the network—further aligning policy and practice, accelerating teacher leadership, developing sustainable funding pathways, and scaling what works.
Key takeaways
- Partnership: KnowledgeWorks and Valley City State University partner to advance personalized learning in North Dakota.Impact: Personalized learning has shown increased student agency, engagement, and readiness in pilot districts.Future: KnowledgeWorks will continue to support the network, focusing on policy alignment, teacher leadership, and sustainable funding.
Conclusion
As states across the country seek to make education more innovative, rigorous, and relevant, North Dakota offers a compelling model for seeding and sustaining systems-level transformation.
This partnership represents a significant step forward for education in North Dakota, offering a model for other states to follow. By focusing on personalized, competency-based learning, KnowledgeWorks and Valley City State University are working to create a more effective and sustainable education system.
For more information on how to support your child’s learning, consider the Learning Success approach, which emphasizes parent empowerment and neuroplasticity-based skill development.
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