The Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education: Implementation Blueprint is a hands-on road map for institutional and system leaders designing direct assessment CBE programs that meet the needs of today’s learners. This resource expands upon the 2020 release and breaks down complex implementation into manageable phases and provides curated tools, key activities, and equity-centered considerations to support sustainable program design and continuous improvement.
The Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education: Implementation Blueprint is a practical guide for California Community Colleges and other institutions exploring how to launch and scale direct assessment CBE programs. These programs shift the focus from seat time to demonstrated mastery of skills, offering flexible, learner-centered pathways that better align with workforce demands.
Launching a direct assessment CBE program requires deep changes across teaching, learning, and institutional operations. This blueprint breaks the process into actionable phases and provides:
Whether you are just beginning your exploration or are ready to build, the blueprint helps colleges strategically navigate policy, instructional design, technology, and business model changes required for successful implementation.
This work was designed in collaboration with, and supported by, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and the Success Center for California Community Colleges.
The first version of the blueprint was released in 2020; the scope and depth of this resource was significantly expanded for the 2025 release.
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