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Fred Bramante
Founder, National Center for Competency-Based Learning
The founder and president of the National Center for Competency-Based Learning (NCCBL), Fred Bramante began his journey as an educator in 1970, teaching middle school science in Stamford, Connecticut. From this initiative, the 10,000 Mentors was born, which is a New Hampshire based project of the NCCBL. The project aims to assist school districts in New Hampshire with identifying, recruiting and training community partners (i.e. businesses, nonprofits, talented individuals) for the purpose of matching students’ interest to the skills of specific mentors and, through the process, receive credit toward graduation for mastering specific competencies. New Hampshire will serve as the incubator to take this concept to the entire country with NCCBL's goal of 1 Million Mentors for America's Schools.
He left teaching in 1976 to dedicate his full-time effort to the fledgling music business he started with his life savings of $600 in order to supplement his teaching salary. At its peak, Daddy’s Junky Music was among the top 20 music retailers in America. But he never stopped being a teacher. Education was in his blood.
In 1992, Bramante was appointed to the New Hampshire State Board of Education. After unsuccessful runs for governor on education platforms, he was appointed Chairman of the New Hampshire State Board and was charged by the Governor with the responsibility to lead New Hampshire’s first full-scale education reform effort since 1919.
The results of Bramante’s efforts led to landmark changes in New Hampshire’s education regulations including the move from credit for seat time (the number of hours a student spends in class, known as the Carnegie Unit), to credit for demonstrated learning (anytime, anyplace, anyhow, any pace). Following New Hampshire’s lead, the concept of a competency-based model is now being considered by virtually every state department of education and is high on the agenda of the Council of Chief State School Officers. In 2012, New Hampshire won the Frank Newman State Innovation Award from the Education Commission of the States.
Bramante’s efforts have received national attention. He speaks around the country and serves as a consultant for numerous national, state, and regional education groups and policymakers, including the National Governors’ Association, the Ohio High School Redesign Team, the Iowa Department of Education, the Association of Education Service Agencies, CESA #1 in Wisconsin, Cabell County Schools of West Virginia, and more. Bramante’s new book, Off the Clock: Moving Education from Time to Competency, will hit bookshelves in March 2012.
In 1995, Bramante received the Keene State College Alumni Achievement Award. In 2006, he received his master’s degree in educational leadership from Plymouth State University. In 2009, Plymouth State honored Bramante with their Alumni Achievement Award.
Speech Topics
Does All Learning Have to Happen in the Classroom?
Education Reform: New Models for Future Schools
Education in the 21st Century: How to Shift from Managing Scarce Resources to Managing Abundance
The New Hampshire Model of Education Reform
ED2: Education Driven Economic Development
Throughout our nation's history, the relationship between our system of education and our economy has rarely been all it could be. For America to remain the economic leader of the world, the business community must become a full partner in education. But how?
A number of colleges have recognized this need and are making connections with businesses to try to meet the need for qualified, well-trained candidates for employment, especially in high-tech fields. But, we need to begin earlier.
Professional athletes do not begin playing their sport in college. Participation begins at a very young age. Think of the link between major-league baseball and T-ball. We must create similar pathways for our young people in every career, profession and craft.
Emerging competency-based learning models, where learning can happen anytime, anyplace, anyhow, and at any pace, offer possibilities to create these new pathways for manufacturing, software development, science and technology, the arts and many more.
This new vision for our system of education from Fred Bramante is not a futuristic dream. While in the early stages, the plans have been approved and are already underway.
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