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Performance-Based Learning and Assessment Networks (PLAN) Program

Performance-Based Learning and Assessment Networks (PLAN) Program

PLAN Pilot Case Studies

Developed by PLAN's research partners at the University at Albany, SUNY, and Russell Sage College, these case studies report on the experiences of district and school leaders, teachers, and staff at the PLAN Pilot Schools in the early phases of the PLAN Pilot.

For information on the research design and data collection methods, see the PLAN Qualitative Methods and Procedures Report.

Focus Area A: Career and Technical Education & Work-Based Learning

Johnson CitySenior High School

"Johnson City school leaders emphasized a proactive stance toward change, highlighting a culture of collaboration and experimentation. They aim to be at the forefront of educational transformation, preparing both staff and students for new graduation measures and instructionalstrategies."(p.7)

​​Interviews with Johnson City educators were conducted in January of 2025, less than one year since theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024). At that time, Pilot Networks had just been announced. Johnson City wasin the process of connectingwith their Mentor School (Thomas A. Edison CTE High School) and had begun collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Questar III BOCES).

Saugerties Senior High School

"The leadership team at Saugerties cultivated a culture of trust and experimentation where teachers and students alike were encouraged to try PBLA even if they might stumble along the way. With a strong foundation and expertise among members of the core leadership team, Saugerties educators were confident that the shift to PBLA would gradually take hold in their district." (p.7)

Interviews with Saugerties educatorsbegan inJanuary of 2025,less than one year since theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024). At that time, Pilot Networks had just been announced.Saugertieswasin the process of connectingwith their Mentor School (Thomas A. Edison CTE High School) and had begun collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Questar III BOCES).

Stanley G. Falk School

"At Falk School, educators strive to make the learning experiences for their students authentic, engaging, and relevant. Their primary goal...is to ensure that their students are prepared for their lives after high school.... As many educators explained, the implementation of PBLA offered a unique way to further these goals... and hoped that their participation in PLAN Pilot would allow the voices of their students to meaningfully contribute to discussions about education in New York State." (p. 7)

Interviews with Stanley Falk educators were conducted inDecemberof 2024, less than one year since theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024). At that time,Mentor Schools had just been selectedfor the program (September2024)and Pilot Networks werein the process of beingformed.Stanley Falk had not yet connected with theirMentor School (Robert H. Gibson TechnicalHigh School) andjustbegun collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Questar III BOCES).

Focus Area B: Inquiry-Based Approaches with Learner Profiles

Dana West Jr/Sr High School

"Dana West Jr./Sr. High School is developing PBLA in ways that will strengthen both teaching and learning. The district has embedded structural support, created expectations for ongoing project work, andbegunto expand projects across grade levels. Through these adaptations, Port Byron School District is fostering authentic, inquiry-drivenlearning experiences and building a culture where educators and students alike seethe value of project-based and performance-based approaches." (p.9)

Interviews with Dana West educators began in July of 2025,more thanone year after theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) and7months since Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025). At that time,Dana West had connected with their Mentor School (Louis M Klein MiddleSchool) and been collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC) since the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Irondequoit High School

"PBLA coincides with the district’s work towards developing a “Portrait of a Graduate” and overall goals to make learning a more authentic experience for students. Educators also felt that PBLA increased student engagement and enthusiasm for learning and especially welcomed the alternative instructional practices and assessments which it brought for students with specialneeds." (p.6)

Interviews with Irondequoit educators began in May of 2025, one year after theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) andnearly 6months since Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025). At that time,Irondequoit had connectedwith their Mentor School (HarrisonHigh School)andbeencollaboratingwith their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC)since the start ofthe 2024-25 academic year.

Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH)

at Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)

"OHM BOCES P-TECH is already making significant adaptations to implement PBLA, focused on equity in grading, integrating PBLA across content areas, and expanding authentic learning experiences. Through innovative projects, the use of technology, and strong community partnerships, the program is creating a dynamic and supportive PBLA learning environment." (p. 9)

Interviews with P-TECH OHM educators were conducted in December of 2024, less than one year since theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024). At that time, Mentor Schools had just been selected for the program (September 2024) and Pilot Networks werein the process of beingformed. P-TECH OHM had not yet connected with their Mentor School (Harrison High School) and just begun collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC).

Robert Moses Middle School

"The Robert Moses Middle School’s experience in the PLAN Pilot reflects both the complexities and the promise of implementing PBLA. Staff navigated the demands of building new structuresfrom the ground up, adapting schedules, and balancing innovative instructional approaches with meeting state standards, all while managingresource constraints and limited time. Yet, these challenges were met witha strong senseof purpose and professional curiosity. Leaders and teachers consistently expressed optimism about PBLA’s ability to spark authentic student engagement, deepen skill development, and bring fresh energy to teaching." (p.9)

Interviews with Robert Moses educators began in July of 2025, more than one year after theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) and 7 months since Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025). At that time, Robert Moses had connected with their Mentor School (Louis M Klein Middle School) and been collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC) since the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Tupper Lake Middle/High School

"One way in which educators at Tupper Lake have progressed with the implementation of PBLA is bybuilding fromexisting initiatives that already incorporated performance-based teaching and learning.... Teachers also recognized that many of their existing teaching practices were already aligned with performance-based learning and planned to build from these lessonsas they began to implement PBLA more deeply." (p.5)

Interviews with Tupper Lake educators began in May of 2025, one year after theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) andnearly 6months since Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025). At that time,Tupper Lakehad connected with their Mentor School (Harrison High School) and been collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC)since the start ofthe 2024-25 academic year.

Wellsville Secondary School

"Overall, educators and staff at Wellsville...were excited for the shift towards instructional practices which they felt would be more engaging and useful for their students. Educators at Wellsville also felt that PBLA was conducive to approaches that they havesought to include in their teaching practices prior to becoming part of the Pilot program... [and] that PBLA would complement their efforts to make learning relevant to students’ interests and lives outside of school." (p.7)

Interviews with Wellsville educators began in January of 2025, less than one year since theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024). At that time, Pilot Networks had just been announced. Wellsville wasin the process of connectingwith their Mentor School (Louis M. Klein Middle School) andhad beguncollaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC).

Focus Area C: Project-Based Learning & Performance-Based Assessment Tasks

Brentwood High School

"At Brentwood, the educators in this study highlighted the benefits of PBLA for diverse learners, particularly for English Language Learners, over a quarter of their student population. Teachers noted that early use of PBLA demonstratedforthem that the approach fosters connection and deeper learning.... Educators attributed these benefits to their thoughtful design of experiences...and described students as invested in the process of learning andtheoutcomes." (p.7)

Interviews with Brentwood educators began in May of 2025, one year after theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) andnearly 6months since Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025). At that time, Brentwood had connected with their Mentor School (Urban Assembly Maker Academy) and been collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC) since the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Brookfield Central School

"Brookfield educators express strong enthusiasm for project-based learning, noting that students are engaged and excited by the hands-on, creative nature of the work. Classrooms are visibly transformed with student projects, and there is a sense of pride inwhat has been accomplished so far." (p.4)

Interviews with Brookfield educatorswere conductedinApril of 2025, nearly one yearsince theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) and a few months after Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025). At that time,Brookfieldhad connected with their Mentor School (South Bronx Community CharterHigh School) and been collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC) since the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Colton-Pierrepont Central School

"Educators at Colton-Pierrepont Central School look for multiple ways to engage with members of their tight-knit community around initiatives to enhance student learning.... [C]ommunitystakeholders were involved in developing the school’s Portrait of a Graduate, which identified authentic learning as a core value...[and] educators spent time during their summer planning session to brainstorm how student presentations might be incorporated to generate broader interest." (p.8)

Interviews with Colton-Pierrepont educators wereconductedin July of 2025, more than one year after theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) and 7 months since Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025).At that time, Colton Pierrepont had connected with their Mentor School (South Bronx Community Charter High School) and been collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC) since the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Maryvale High School

"Educators at the Maryvale High School have expressed the importance of engaging students in the PBLA process in order to get students’ genuine buy-in. Theyobservedthat when students are given “choice and voice” in their projects, they become more engaged and motivated and take greater ownership of their learning.... Teachers worked to scaffold elements of projects to ensure alignment with state standards while promoting studentchoice."(p. 7)

Interviews with Maryvale educatorsbegan in May of 2025, one year after theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) andnearly 6months since Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025).At that time, Maryvale had connected with their Mentor School (Tech Valley High School) and been collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC) since the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Port Chester Senior High School

"Port Chester educators emphasize the need for more time, visibility into successful models, and peer collaboration. Importantly, teachers want to see PBLA in action.... Together, the data collected from Port Chester educators reveal a clear path forward for advancing PBLA implementation: Bridge the theory-practice gap.... Clarify PBLA’s scope.... Design projects with real-world relevance... [and] Support teachers with time, money, visibility, and collaboration opportunities." (p. 7)

Interviews with Port Chester educators were conducted in April of 2025, nearly one year since theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) and a few months after Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025). At that time, Port Chester had connected with their Mentor School (South Bronx Community Charter High School) and been collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC) since the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Waverly High School

"The Waverly PLAN Pilot team recognized that they need to build trust and confidence with their educators, students, and families.... While concrete outcomes were still emerging, the groundwork being laid through conversations, planning, and early experimentation was seen as a critical step toward broader transformation." (p.8)

Interviews withWaverlyeducators were conducted in Augustof 2025,more thanone year since theirselectionto the PLAN Pilot (May 2024) and8months after Pilot Networks had been announced (January 2025). At that time,Waverlyhad connected with their Mentor School (Tech ValleyHigh School) and been collaborating with their Technical Assistance Center (Modern Learners LLC) since the start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Read more about these schools inݮƵ's Meet the PLAN Pilot Schools portfolio.