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This one felt a little more unique to me. -Sarah

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st. george's independent school
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St. George's Independent School: Portrait of a Graduate

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Portrait of a Graduate - St. George's Independent School

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The Organizational Impact of Effective Purpose and Outcome Statements

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The Organizational Impact of Effective Purpose and Outcome Statements

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ISM

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The Organizational Impact of Effective Purpose and Outcome Statements (1)

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Portrait ideas based on our Strategic Plan

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Atlanta Girls School Portrait of a Graduate

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Atlanta Girls School Portrait of a Graduate

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https://atlantagirlsschool.org/portrait-of-an-ags-graduate/

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The Partnership for 21 st Century Learning created a Framework for 21 st Century Learning , which was developed with input from teachers, education experts and business leaders to define and illustrate the skills and knowledge students need to succeed in work, life and citizenship, as well as the support systems necessary for 21st-century learning outcomes.

Through this organization, the Portrait of a Graduate was launched. The goal is that by 2021, 21 percent of school systems across the country are engaging with their communities to develop and implement a Portrait of a Graduate. The idea is that the portrait will frame the new vision for the school system.

Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart, believes that, "it's a great time for communities to have a conversation about what students will be able to do. We've seen this work in hundreds of communities. If you have a conversation about how has the world changed since you were in school, and what kids will need to know and be able to do, the next question is: What kinds of experiences are likely to produce those outcomes and will help communities develop really thoughtful lists of new priorities? It's been exciting to see in the last year really good examples of new graduate profiles or student learning goals."

Vander Ark also believes that a new set of priorities are emerging from this community work. He believes that literacy and numeracy will continue to be important, but the new priorities are around those that truly make us human, such as the ability to manage ourselves, read social situations, and good decision-making. These are often referred to as social emotional learning indicators.

He also speaks to the importance of design thinking, and how we can teach students a structured approach to attacking problems that they've never seen before. Vander Ark states that design thinking is "similar to computational thinking, which comes from a computer science background, but in both cases it's a structured approach to say, wow, I've never seen this problem. And then it's a structured approach to iterative development where you try stuff and you see how it works.

"In our panel, Jonathan Rochelle from Google talked about how what he most wanted from kids was a sense of confidence," said Vander Ark. "I love that idea. I want them to be confident using attack skills for walking into complex situations. I want them to appreciate and be humble about complexity, but I want them to be confident that they know how to tackle new and complicated settings.

"The last new priority would be entrepreneurship. The idea that we're all entrepreneurs now. Even those that join a large company are going to be expected to show initiative and understand how they can make a difference in their company," Vander Ark said. This is how the Portrait of a Graduate is pointing to what the future of learning will look like and require for students today.

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What Does the Portrait of a Graduate Look Like for Education in 2018?

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The Partnership for 21 st Century Learning created a Framework for 21 st Century Learning , which was developed with input from teachers, education experts and business leaders to define and illustrate the skills and knowledge students need to succeed in work, life and citizenship, as well as the support systems necessary for 21st-century learning outcomes.

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By Ken Kay

One of the most exciting and innovative developments in K-12 education over the last several years has been the adoption by school districts of a Portrait of a Graduate, describing what students should know and be able to do to succeed in college, careers, and citizenship in the 21st century. Superintendents have recognized the value of establishing a common aspiration for all graduates to serve as a "north star" for their district's transformation efforts.

However, developing a Portrait of a Graduate is just the first step in the journey to becoming a 21st century education system. I have observed three key strategies that districts should follow to ensure their vision of 21st century learning becomes a reality for all students.

1. Root the Portrait of a Graduate process in your community.
While the process of developing a Portrait of a Graduate will look different in each school system, the most important move for any school leader is to engage their community in that process from day one. Bringing together a broad array of stakeholders to co-create a Portrait of a Graduate can help build understanding and lasting support from the community that leads to sustainable impact for students.

In Virginia Beach, Virginia, the school district organized a campaign that eventually resulted in 1,000 community members coming together at the local convention center to consider and adopt the district's Portrait of a Graduate. Other school systems have engaged a community advisory group of key stakeholders in a months-long process to reach consensus on a Portrait of a Graduate. For example, Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia developed the district's Portrait of a Graduate over one year, first with leadership from a 75-member task force-including teachers, principals, parents, school board members, and local business and community leaders-followed by input from many others. Dysart Unified School District in Arizona followed a similar process in creating their Profile of a Career and College Ready Graduate.

Designing a community engagement process that fits your local context and includes wide-ranging participation from the community is critical to garner the long-term support needed to implement real change in your district.

2. Involve stakeholders who understand the 21st century workforce.
A primary driver of the Portrait of a Graduate work is to transform the educational experience for all students, so they are prepared to meet the demands of a 21st century economy. With that in mind, it's important to engage stakeholders in the development process who have a deep understanding of the workforce and what knowledge and skills students will need to fill the jobs of the future.

The best Portrait of a Graduate advisory groups have strong representation from the business community, including leaders from the local chamber of commerce, workforce development organizations, and HR directors from local organizations who can explain what they look for in hiring. Parents who are members of the 21st century workforce can also provide important insight for educators and others about what future jobs will require from our students. Finally, make sure to include student representation on your Portrait of a Graduate advisory groups. They bring a unique perspective that can help to anchor discussions in what is best for kids.

3. Treat the Portrait of a Graduate as just the beginning of the journey.
Working with your community to develop a Portrait of a Graduate is a significant accomplishment worth celebrating, but it's also just the beginning of the process of becoming a 21st century education system. Don't let your Portrait of a Graduate become just another poster hanging on the walls of your schools. It should serve as your "north star" leading the district on a continuous journey to transforming educational opportunities for all students.

EdLeader21's network of more than 165 school districts are collaborating with one another to bring 21st century learning to life for all students. We have worked with our member districts to co-create rubrics and performance tasks as well as other tools to help educators teach and assess 21st century competencies. These are strategies that can create traction for your Portrait of a Graduate.

If you are considering developing a Portrait of a 21st Century Graduate for your district, you are on the right path. Whatever you do, don't skip over the essential task of engaging a broad group of community stakeholders in the process. When communities and districts co-create a shared Profile or Portrait of a Graduate-describing what students need to become lifelong learners and contributors in the 21st century-there is real potential for collaboration and lasting impact. Visit our Gallery to learn from some of the districts pioneering this important work.

In October 2017, Battelle for Kids and EdLeader21 joined forces behind a shared goal that: By 2021, 21 percent of school systems across the U.S. are engaging with their communities to develop and implement a Portrait of a Graduate. We hope to effect a tipping point that creates positive momentum toward transforming educational opportunities for all students.

Contact us to learn how your school district or organization can get involved.

Ken Kay is CEO of EdLeader21, a national network of Battelle for Kids. Connect with him on Twitter at @kenkay21.

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Creating a Portrait of a Graduate: 3 Keys to Success

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By Ken Kay One of the most exciting and innovative developments in K-12 education over the last several years has been the adoption by school districts of a Portrait of a Graduate, describing what students should know and be able to do to succeed in college, careers, and citizenship in the 21st century.

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Every school system is unique, but they are connected by a shared aspiration: that all students have an educational experience preparing them to be effective lifelong learners and contributors.

Now more than ever, that experience must not only provide for the acquisition of rigorous academic content, but it must also be more intentional about fostering critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and other 21st century skills our young people need to thrive in this complex, rapidly changing world.

Many school systems across the country have engaged their larger community in developing a Portrait of a Graduate, a collective vision that articulates the community's aspirations for all students.

Locally developed, but globally positioned, the Portrait of a Graduate serves as a North Star for system transformation. Providing strategic direction for the redesign of the overall educational experience for students, this collective vision reinvigorates and re-engages students, teachers, and community stakeholders.

As education leaders, it is important to ask:

What are the hopes, aspirations, and dreams that our community has for our young people?

What are the skills and mindsets that our children need for success in this rapidly changing and complex world?

What are the implications for the design of the learning experiences-and equitable access to those experiences-we provide in our school systems?

The Portrait of a Graduate is the first step in framing a new vision for your school system. Once you create your Portrait, the exciting work of implementing this new vision begins.

learn about the design process

Which student will be best prepared to contribute and compete in this global economy?

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Now more than ever, that experience must not only provide for the acquisition of rigorous academic content, but it must also be more intentional about fostering critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and other 21st century skills our young people need to thrive in this complex, rapidly changing world.