Concord Middle School presented the district’s expanded student‑led conference model to the Concord School Committee on Nov. 19, describing a shift from short, teacher‑led check‑ins to 30‑minute conferences centered on student portfolios. Administrators and parents said the model, piloted last year with eighth grade, ran district‑wide for sixth through eighth grades this year.

Shelley (district presenter) said the preparation began in early September and emphasized the move toward student voice and reflective practice. "It really is putting the student at the center of their learning," she said. Jen Cody, an eighth‑grade English teacher and department head, praised the approach for giving students "an authentic conversation with their voice there." Parents described how students gathered projects and artifacts into slide portfolios and presented academic highs and lows to family members and teachers.

Parent Dominique Belgard said seeing her child present increased his confidence and changed home conversations: "He was presenting himself … I was like, wow. This is good." Committee members noted parents taking photos and reported that the longer conference format allowed deeper engagement than the former "speed‑dating" model of many seven‑minute meetings.

Committee members asked whether the model could follow students into the high school. Administrators said sharing practices with the high school is a next step and discussed possibilities for a K–12 portfolio that could track student work over multiple years. District staff highlighted the role of home‑base advisers in coaching students and the potential for multi‑year artifacts to show cohort growth.

The presentation underscored the district’s emphasis on combining formative data with student reflection, rather than replacing standard assessments; speakers said the conference work complements, rather than substitutes for, tools like DIBELS and STAR. The committee did not take formal action on the model at the meeting; administrators said they will continue implementation and share resources with secondary colleagues.