Norwalk launches phase 2 of Portrait of a Graduate, adds AI literacy and assessment pilots

Superintendent Dr. Estrella and curriculum leaders told the Norwalk Board of Education on March 11 that the district’s Portrait of a Graduate rollout has moved from awareness to classroom-level practice and will enter a second phase focused on communication skills and AI literacy.

The presentation summarized the work to date: launch of the critical thinker competency, feedback cycles with Digital Promise that captured more than 900 responses from staff, families and students, and an internal assessment cohort to pilot classroom-level measures of critical thinking. Dr. Estrella said the input shaped the district’s plan for phase 2, which will emphasize the effective communicator competency and AI literacy training for students and staff.

Why it matters: the Portrait of a Graduate is the district’s organizing framework for non-academic competencies that leaders said should be measurable and aligned to existing district metrics. Curriculum and assessment staff said their goal is to move the concept “from poster to practice” by linking new competencies to tools the district already uses — student achievement metrics, district learning walks and teacher practice measures.

Curriculum administrator Kimberly Erickson and Director of School Improvement Krista Schmitz described steps taken to measure and support the work. Erickson said an internal assessment cohort launched in February with teachers across grades and subjects to pilot student reflection tools and classroom-aligned measures. Schmitz said the district is also building a district-to-student-level monitoring tool (described to the board as “PACE to graduation”) that will let leaders and counselors see cohort and individual progress toward graduation requirements.

Leaders emphasized professional development: schools have been participating in learning walks and in targeted professional learning; curriculum staff said they will add summer PD and further training on effective communication next year. Digital Promise, which supported the feedback collection, will continue as a partner in refining assessment approaches.

“Assessing is a really tricky area,” Krista Schmitz told the board, explaining why the district prioritized alignment between Portrait measures and existing assessments. “Part of the work that started that we’re really excited about is gleaning student perspectives and using them to inform classroom practice.”

The presentation closed by previewing next steps: complete the internal assessment pilot, provide summer PD for teachers on the effective communicator competency, and add AI literacy supports for students and staff as part of the Portrait rollout.

The board did not take formal action on these items during the workshop; staff presented midyear progress and asked trustees to use the material when considering next year’s goals in June.