Oak Foundation Invests $1 Million in UDL Credentialing, Certification Effort
Date:
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Oak Foundation has awarded CAST and the UDL Implementation and Research Network (UDL-IRN) $1 million over three years in support of efforts to create the Universal Design for Learning Certification and Credentialing Initiative (UDL-CCI).
CAST and the UDL-IRN launched the field-change initiative in 2016 to stimulate and sustain best practices in education program design, product development, and classroom instruction. Universal Design for Learning, or UDL, is a research-based framework for developing student-centered environments. With the UDL-CCI, the partners are working to promote the adoption and use of the UDL framework to build capacity for personalized learning.
Universal Design for Learning, or UDL, is a research-based framework for developing student-centered environments. With the UDL-CCI, the partners are working to promote the adoption and use of the UDL framework to build capacity for personalized learning. Key goals for the overall initiative include:
- Build up a library of learning resources and a global community through an online platform, Learning Designed, to launch in beta form in the Fall, 2018.
- Develop and field test general and role-specific credentials to qualify individual educators in applying UDL to curriculum design and classroom teaching.
- Develop and test credentials to certify education technology developers and local education agencies and/or schools as examples of UDL best practices.
- Create a scalable, sustainable business model for Learning Designed, which will house the certification and credentialing programs.
We are grateful to Oak Foundation for supporting this project that we believe will improve outcomes for all learners, especially those with learning differences. Oak’s ongoing commitment to our partnership is a great vote of confidence in the promise of UDL.
Linda Gerstle, CAST Chief Executive Officer
About CAST: Founded in 1984, CAST is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform education design and practice until learning has no limits. Learn more at cast.org. CAST—Until Learning Has No Limits®
About UDL-IRN: The UDL Implementation & Research Network (IRN) was founded in 2010 as a grassroots non-profit supporting global innovation and UDL implementation. Learn more at udl-irn.org
About Oak Foundation: Oak Foundation commits its resources to address issues of global, social and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged. With offices in Europe, Africa, India and North America, we make grants to organisations in approximately 40 countries worldwide.