SINCERITY ALLIANCE — HOUSE‑BASED MASTERY EDUCATION PLATFORM (HBME)
Adopted June 2025
“Belong to learn. Learn to lead.”

1  |  Why We Need a New Model

  • Academic slide: Fewer than one‑third of U.S. students reached NAEP “Proficient” in reading in 2024; math scores remain below 2019 levels.(nagb.gov, k12dive.com)

  • Run‑away spending with flat results: Average current expenditure is $16,280 per pupil—up 13 % since 2011.(nces.ed.gov)

  • Staffing crisis: 86 % of public schools report difficulty hiring educators; 12 % of teachers leave their school each year.(devlinpeck.com, learningpolicyinstitute.org)

Students are disengaged, teachers are overstretched, and taxpayers see little return. HBME replaces passive, subject‑silo schooling with an immersive “House” structure that gamifies progress, builds community, and rewards mastery—drawing on the proven motivational power of the Hogwarts model while grounded in modern pedagogy.

2  |  Program Architecture

ElementDesign ChoicePurposeFour Rotating HousesCuriosity, Integrity, Craft, Service (names signal values, not tracking). Students are randomly sorted each August and re‑sorted every two years.Belonging without academic caste; prevents permanent labeling.Mastery GuildsWithin each House, students elect quarterly focus guilds: STEM, Humanities, Fine Arts, Civic Leadership.Depth with choice; mirrors elective “clubs” at Hogwarts.Point & Badge EconomyPoints for attendance, growth, service; digital badges for standards mastery. Houses compete for the annual Governor’s Cup.Continuous motivation; transparent progress for families.Cross‑Age MentoringGrades 9–12 mentor grades 6–8; grades 6–8 mentor K–5 “First‑Years.”Peer teaching reinforces learning, eases transitions.Teacher CommonsFaculty join Houses; each House has a stipend‑funded Dean to coordinate data reviews, family nights, and competitions.Built‑in professional‑learning community and shared accountability.

3  |  Cost & Funding

Line ItemIncremental $/PupilNational Annual (49 M students)Digital badging platform$70$3.43 BHouse events & micro‑grants$90$4.41 BDean stipends & mentor training$140$6.86 BTotal$300$14.7 B

Context: Current K‑12 operational spending is ≈ $798 B; HBME adds 1.8 % while redirecting low‑impact discretionary line items (e.g., redundant testing contracts). Federal Title IV and state innovation funds supply start‑up grants; ongoing costs become part of per‑pupil allocations.

4  |  Implementation Timeline

YearMilestone2026House‑Based Learning Act signed; National Sorting & Badging Center chartered.20275,000 pilot schools (every state + D.C., urban/rural balance) launch Houses.2028Independent evaluation; competitive grants open to any district meeting fidelity rubric.202950 % of public districts adopt HBME; digital badge transcripts accepted by all public colleges.2030Universal K‑12 adoption; annual Governor’s Cup broadcast nationally.

5  |  Accountability Metrics (first five cohorts)

GoalBaseline (2024)Target (2030)Chronic absenteeism29 %≤ 20 %NAEP Reading proficiency (gr 8)32 %≥ 40 %Teacher one‑year attrition12 %≤ 8 %Student sense‑of‑belonging index*58/100≥ 75/100

*Gallup Student Poll.

6  |  Equity & Safeguards

  1. Rotating assignment prevents academic tracking by race or income.

  2. IDEA & 504 alignment: Badges calibrated to individualized education plans.

  3. Family Opt‑In Choice: Parents may request House changes for documented cultural or linguistic needs.

  4. Public Dashboard: House points, badge attainment, and funding reported quarterly.

7  |  Why This Works

  • Narrative Gravity: Like Hogwarts, Houses create stories students want to inhabit—stories stronger than screens.

  • Peer Pressure for Good: Friendly rivalry raises effort without shaming individuals.

  • Visible Growth: Badges translate standards into concrete artifacts families understand.

  • Teacher Community: Shared House identity cuts isolation, a leading driver of attrition.

8  |  Call to Action

We invite governors, school boards, teachers’ unions, and PTA leaders to join the Sorting Charter Consortium drafting the first national badge taxonomy and House‑event handbook. Together we can prove that sincerity plus imagination beats apathy and drift.

SINCERITY ALLIANCE
Belong to learn. Learn to lead.