West Irondequoit staff outline local rollout of New YorkInspires Portrait of a Graduate; financial literacy added as credit

Kristine Neega, assistant superintendent for instruction for West Irondequoit Central School District, told families the district is aligning curriculum and grading to New York StateInspiresand the state-adopted Portrait of a Graduate, a multi-year effort the Board of Regents adopted in July that the state says is intended to "transform education in New York State." Neega led a community presentation explaining four major transformations the state proposes and what they mean locally.

The Portrait sets six graduate attributesacademically prepared, creative innovator, critical thinker, effective communicator, global citizen and reflective, future-focusedthat will organize diploma requirements and help reshape how credits are earned. "This is going to be the driver for our work moving forward," Neega said, saying the district has already audited courses and adapted a local draft to align with the state document.

Why it matters: New York aims to simplify multiple diploma types into one New York State high school diploma while expanding flexible pathways to demonstrate proficiency. Neega said the state concluded the current graduation system "doesn't really serve all…