Starpoint outlines plan to implement New York Inspires "Portrait of a Graduate"

The Starpoint Central School District on Tuesday described steps to implement New York State's New York Inspires initiative and its Portrait of a Graduate framework, saying district leaders will partner with the consulting group Modern Learners and join a regional community of practice to pilot project-based learning and new assessment approaches.

District Superintendent Maureen said the state's Portrait of a Graduate was finalized in July and that Starpoint is in a planning phase this school year. "There's still a lot unknown right now," she said, adding that New York will preserve Regents assessments while expanding other pathways to demonstrate readiness.

The Portrait of a Graduate sets six attributes for graduates'including being academically prepared, creative innovators, critical thinkers, effective communicators, global citizens and reflective, future-focused learners'and places culturally responsive-sustaining (CRS) practices at the center. Maureen said the CRS framework (a state document released in February 2018) will be integrated into curriculum, teacher evaluation and professional learning.

District officials described a multiyear timeline tied to student cohorts. Maureen explained that students who entered ninth grade in 2023 (the district's current juniors at the time of the meeting) will remain under current diploma requirements; lower cohorts will face staged changes, with the presenter noting that students who are now in fifth grade are part of a cohort targeted for full implementation when the state finalizes details. She emphasized that specific credit requirements and assessment rubrics for future cohorts remain to be released by the state.

To support local implementation, the district said it will: - Contract with Modern Learners to access expertise and pilot project-based learning and assessment approaches alongside other Western New York districts; and - Join a community of practice that meets one to two times a month, with district representatives named to participate in year-one planning and future teacher-leader pilots.

Maureen identified district participants in the community of practice as herself, Dr. Kropf and Mrs. Haller, and said other administrators'Dr. Ingram, Mr. DeMaria and Mr. Marderon'will also attend sessions. She said the district attended summer sessions with educator Will Richardson to explore how instruction and assessment might change. "We're going to have to teach them differently," she said, quoting Richardson's emphasis on rethinking the look of learning: "how does learning need to look different."

Board members expressed both interest and caution. One member said the phased, multiyear rollout reduces risk and allows time to work out implementation "bugs." Another said the vague state timeline can be anxiety-provoking and urged the district to seek alignment with other participating districts so assessments and rigor remain consistent.

The district characterized the current year as planning and leader-focused work, with a second year to pilot teacher-led project-based assessments and a third year to scale practices districtwide. Maureen said the district also plans outreach materials for families and a public-facing website documenting steps and timelines.

No formal board vote was recorded on the contract with Modern Learners during the meeting; the presentation described the district's planned next steps and assigned administrators to the community of practice.

Looking ahead, administrators said they will return with additional presentations as state guidance becomes available and as local pilot work produces concrete examples for the broader staff and community.