Dr. Savage, a district administrator, told the Cheltenham School District Educational Affairs Committee that tonight’s presentation was a Year 2 progress monitoring report for the district strategic plan and that one pillar being reported was the district’s Portrait of a Graduate.

The district said the Portrait of a Graduate effort will finalize a set of nonacademic competencies it expects students to demonstrate, and will use surveys, student focus groups and community feedback to refine language and implementation plans.

“We have spent the last two years…we're at the stage now where we're starting to collect feedback from staff, community members, students, and leadership around these competencies,” Rachel Grama, secondary data and curriculum specialist, said. “One of the pieces in the long term thought is to continue work around integrating project based learning…because we're finding over and over again this request from students and families and teachers for real‑world application.”

Staff described a two‑year rollout that includes: surveying leadership and teachers; consolidating perception data with high‑school student focus groups; piloting mentorship programs at Elkins Park, Cedarbrook (Studebrook referenced in remarks) and the high school through the Department of Student Services; and working with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit to collect broader feedback next year.

The district plans communications and assessment work to integrate competencies into curriculum and supports — for example aligning them with PBIS and creating grade‑level expectations so schools “can still feel their own identity,” Grama said. Staff also said they intend to hold a student art competition in spring to produce a one‑page graphic representing the Portrait of a Graduate.

No formal board action was taken on the Portrait of a Graduate during the meeting; the material was presented for review and planning. Board members commended the inclusive process and urged continued student involvement in development and rollout.

Looking ahead, staff said finalized competencies and assessment integration plans will be prepared next year along with communications for families and school communities.