One district is measuring what matters and defining essential life skills for long-term success.
Baltimore City Public Schools in Maryland and Worthington Schools in Ohio partnered with the AASA District Services team to create a Portrait of a Graduate and a Portrait of a Learner, respectively. Through broad community engagement, both districts established shared, unifying visions that elevate student voice, provide a framework for measuring what matters, and define essential life skills for long-term success.
With 75,000 students across 162 schools, the district lacked a unified vision to articulate life skills beyond academic rigor, leaving post-secondary preparation fragmented.
Serving 10,700 students, the district needed a PreK–12 progression that clarified outcomes across all grade levels, ensuring consistency and shared expectations for future-readiness.
Author's summary: Empowering graduates through future-ready vision.