District leaders updated the Board of Education on Aug. 12 about the district’s portrait initiative — a set of eight dimensions describing a well-rounded graduate — and how that framework guided summer learning, clubs and early-childhood planning.

Dr. Ebony Lofton, who presented on the portrait and early-childhood work, said the district served nearly 1,000 students across eight summer programs and employed 53 teachers. Programs included robotics camp, access to algebra, extended-school-year services, multilingual summer boost, summer music camp and partnerships with Triton College and the Field Museum for career exploration.

Lofton said the district analyzed participation in 125 clubs, sports and music programs and found overall demographic representation close to district demographics but lower participation among students with IEPs, English learners and students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch. "Where we have areas for opportunity are really with students with IEPs, our English learners, and students who are eligible for a free and reduced lunch," Lofton said.

The presentation highlighted community partnerships — Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation funded an elementary volleyball clinic, the Oak Park Public Library brought summer literacy programs into classrooms, and WSSRA and the Park District joined ESY offerings. Lofton said staff added registration questions for incoming kindergarten families; among 398 registrants, about 13.6% reported difficulty finding child care, with availability and cost cited as top barriers.

Board members raised questions about measuring program success, attendance and student outcomes. Lofton said staff plan to return in October with fuller participation and attendance data and that next steps include building a Youth Advisory Council, expanding portrait signature experiences at each school, and aligning portrait dimensions to academic standards.

Superintendent remarks earlier in the meeting previewed a "digital goal book," interactive organizational charts and communications tools connected to the portrait initiative; staff said a fall update on middle-school redesign will follow later this year.