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School Committee reviews draft 'vision of the learner,' plans assessment work for next year
Summary
District staff outlined a draft "vision of the learner" built around competencies and 'I can' statements, and said assessment tools will be developed separately to help students and teachers identify growth and align curriculum across grade levels.
District staff presented a draft "vision of the learner" that focuses on competencies and explicit "I can" statements to help students and teachers identify areas for growth, and said assessment will be developed as a separate but aligned piece of work.
At the committee meeting, a presenter said the draft will distinguish competencies from assessment and gave examples of "I can" statements such as, "I can identify an area of growth" and "I can listen to feedback with curiosity and identify ways to improve." The presenter said Year 1 was about designing the competency framework; Year 2 will focus on bringing the competencies into school practice, beginning at the high school and then into K–8 schools. "Next year will be about bringing that work into the life of schools," the presenter said.
Committee members raised implementation questions including timelines and how the work ties to habits of mind, vertical and horizontal curriculum alignment, and principals' capacity to manage change. One member asked whether pre‑K and special programs are included; staff replied that principals and a working group have been engaged and that the vision will fold into the district strategic plan.
Staff noted that the product should be accessible to students: "Students should be able to look at it and say, okay. That makes sense. This is the vision for me," a presenter said, emphasizing clear language and a shared vocabulary for teachers and students. The presenters said they will use surveys, principal feedback and community engagement to refine competencies and are planning to share a community draft in late spring or early summer, with additional stakeholder sessions to follow.
The committee did not take formal action on the draft at the meeting. Staff said next steps include continued feedback from principals and teachers, refining assessment approaches tied to the competencies, and determining a Year 2 implementation plan that identifies core objectives for the 2026–27 school year.
