The Full Picture

EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE

Public education never has stood still.

As the needs of students and communities have evolved, so too has the work of our schools. Today, school districts across the country are creating more opportunities for students to apply their learning in authentic ways, explore career pathways, build strong relationships and develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions they will need to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

That evolution also has expanded our understanding of student success.

Academic achievement remains the foundation of a strong education. At the same time, school systems are recognizing that readiness for life after graduation encompasses far more than a single score or assessment. Communication, collaboration, problem solving, adaptability and other real skills have become essential to success in college, careers and civic life.

As our vision of student success continues to grow, so does an important leadership responsibility. We must ensure the evidence we share reflects the outcomes we value most.

Building Confidence

Communities deserve to see the full picture of how students are learning, growing and preparing for the future. Families want to know not only how well students perform academically, but also whether they are developing the confidence, resilience and real skills needed to navigate an ever-changing world. Students deserve opportunities to demonstrate what they know in meaningful ways that connect learning to life beyond the classroom.

Helping communities understand that broader picture is one of the most important responsibilities of today’s school system leaders.

Across the country, districts are finding new ways to tell that story. Portraits of a Graduate are helping communities define a shared vision for student success. Capstone experiences, performance assessments and demonstrations of learning are providing richer evidence of student growth. States, school systems and national organizations are exploring new ways to recognize and communicate students’ growth in the real skills that prepare them for success in school, work and life.

These efforts represent an important shift in thinking. As our expectations for students evolve, the ways we communicate their growth should evolve as well.

This idea is captured in Principle 5 of AASA’s Public Education Promise: Measure What Matters. Principle 5 reminds us that the evidence we share should reflect the aspirations we hold for our students. When our measures align with our vision, they provide families and communities with a more complete understanding of student growth and readiness. They also help school systems stay focused on the outcomes that matter most for the future.

Leading the Way

For superintendents, this work begins with leadership.

Leadership means helping communities understand why a broader definition of success matters. It means engaging families, educators, business leaders and community partners in conversations about the knowledge, skills and experiences students need to thrive. It means communicating progress in ways that build trust and confidence while celebrating the many ways students demonstrate growth.

When communities have a shared understanding of what success looks like, they are better equipped to support the work of their schools.

This month, many of these conversations will continue through the EdLeader Promise Network as district leaders gather for the EdLeader Promise Innovation Conference.

AASA also is launching the Real Skills for Real Life Certification, in partnership with the Families and Work Institute and the University of Minnesota, to provide leaders with practical strategies to strengthen the executive function skills that support student success and bring the Public Education Promise to life in their own communities.

The future of public education will continue to be shaped by the aspirations we hold for our students. As leaders, we have the opportunity to ensure the evidence we share reflects those aspirations and tells the full story of what our students know, who they are becoming and the futures they are prepared to create.

Be well, my colleagues and friends.

David Schuler is AASA executive director.