Indian Prairie School District 204IPSD 204IPSD 204

Portrait of a Graduate

Reported by greg_gibson@ipsd.org on 12/12/18

This fall, the district asked a diverse group of stakeholders to come together to identify the community's aspirations for all students and create the district's Portrait of a Graduate. The stakeholders included parents, teachers, students, business leaders, representatives from higher education, and area non-profits. Through a series of meetings, this group affirmed the value of rigorous academics, but also discussed the idea that today's educational experience must be intentional about fostering the skills young people need to thrive in a complex, rapidly changing world.

The group identified six core competencies needed to succeed, no matter what path a student takes after graduation. The competencies include creativity and innovation, communication, critical thinking and problem solving, citizenship, flexibility and adaptability, and resilience. Once the core competencies were identified, a survey was done to gather feedback from the larger community. Ninety-one percent of survey respondents agreed with the core competencies.

Superintendent Karen Sullivan said the Portrait of a Graduate provides a guide for the district. "We know these are the things our community wants us to focus on as we prepare our students for the future. We need to make sure our work aligns with the competencies."

Watch the video below or visit the webpage to learn more about the district's Portrait of a Graduate.

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