Micro-credentials have impacted the credential ecosystem for over a decade, shifting how skills are recognized. In January 2020, Digital Promise began conducting yearly scans of micro-credential policies in the United States. These annual scans and updates to the Educator Micro-credential Policy Map help inform how school districts, higher education institutions, and states throughout the United States engage with micro-credentials.
To capture the growth of micro-credentials in the credential ecosystem, the following filter is used:
- District-Level Incentives: Individual schools and/or districts have policies recognizing micro-credentials earned by educators.
- State-Level Policy and/or Guidelines: Policies supporting micro-credentials are in place at a state-wide level through legislation or the state’s department of education. States without policies feature district implementation examples instead.
- State-Level Exploration: The state or the state’s department of education has endorsed the use of micro-credentials or has facilitated a relationship between a third-party organization offering credentialing and other institutions (e.g., higher education) within the state. This may include piloting micro-credentials; creating a committee to evaluate the use; partnering with an organization to develop or distribute micro-credentials; or having a formal discussion on the functionality of it.
- Institutes of Higher Education: Micro-credentials are in higher education as part of the curriculum or are available to educators for credit.
District-Level
Since 2023’s update, there has been an increase in district-level initiatives implementing micro-credentials locally and state-wide. During this scan of the Micro-credential Policy Map, we identified three new district-level initiatives exploring micro-credentials for teacher professional development for K-12 students.
- Kansas’ National Education Association is offering a micro-credential library that provides graduate-level credit to educators through Baker University after they complete one or more of the following micro-credential stacks: Adult Social Emotional Learning, Building Winning Teams: Effective Paraeducator-Teacher Teams, Education Support Professionals: Professional Growth Continuum, and Elevating the Profession through Educator Ethics.
- JMG in Maine offers high school students several micro-credentials related to job and career readiness, pathway navigation, financial literacy, digital literacy, personal growth, entrepreneurial mindset, multicultural foundations, and leadership development.
- New Hampshire’s Department of Education is awarding a digital badge to educators who become computer science certified.
To date, we have identified 33 states with district-level policies supporting some level of micro-credential implementation.
State-Level
While reviewing state-level micro-credential policies, we found that seven new state-level policies or guidelines explore micro-credentials, from accepting micro-credentials for educator licensure or re-licensure to awarding micro-credentials and recognizing skills.
- The Colorado Workforce Development Council, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado Community College System, and Colorado Department of Education, has released a framework to support quality non-degree credential pathways to the workforce. Also in Colorado, The Attainment Network is creating stackable credentials to be incorporated into postsecondary pathways while meeting the needs of the evolving workforce and providing more opportunities for higher-wage employment.
- Kansas passed HB 2839, which requires the State Board of Regents and the State Board of Education to collaborate on professional development and a literacy micro-credential.
- Maryland’s State Department of Education offers micro-credentials as one of the flexible earning options for their professional development points.
- Oregon’s Department of Education offers a micro-credential on computer science that prepares educators on computer science-related concepts. The Oregon Education Association offers graduate credit-bearing micro-credentials on topics such as addressing challenging behaviors, restorative practices, trauma-informed pedagogy, bully-free schools, and supporting English language learners.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Principals Association offers micro-credentials on various leadership-related topics. The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network offers a digital badge to educators who obtain the grades 7-12 computer science certification.
- South Carolina’s Department of Education, through the University of South Carolina’s CarolinaCrED, offers micro-credentials to educators throughout the state. The South Carolina Education Association has a micro-credential library on classroom management, technology integration, family engagement, restorative practices, and supporting LGBTQ students.
- The Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington, D.C., offers micro-credentials for educators in early childhood education and special education.
To date, we have identified 28 states with state-level policies supporting some level of micro-credential implementation.
Higher Education-Level
While reviewing higher education micro-credential initiatives, we identified one new higher education institution’s exploration of micro-credentials, ranging from micro-credentials being offered through general education courses to micro-credentials for current students and workforce, and education-related micro-credentials.
- Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers micro-credentials on skills necessary for career and life-long success such as innovation, leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, self-development, communication, and collaboration.
To date, we have identified 49 states with higher education institutions offering micro-credential implementation.
As more districts, states, and higher education institutions adopt micro-credentials to recognize skills earned, we will continue to update the Educator Micro-credential Policy Map annually to reflect those changes.
Explore the updated Educator Micro-credential Policy Map today and let us know what other stories of micro-credential engagement are taking place in your community!
Note: While the policy map is as comprehensive as possible, some policies may have changed since the last annual update.
Digital Promise has been a pioneer in competency-based micro-credentials and has more than 10 years of experience in supporting organizations with their micro-credentialing needs. Check out this eBook, The Role of Micro-Credentials in Lifelong Learning and Development: Empowering Learners, Empowering Organizations, a comprehensive resource accessible to all interested in understanding micro-credentials. If you are interested in learning more about Digital Promise’s micro-credential services, please contact us at microcredentials@digitalpromise.org.
