New York State’s high school graduation requirements are changing and Dutchess BOCES is helping to spread the word about what’s happening and when by presenting NY Inspires to our component districts and our community. NY Inspires is the initiative that is moving the 12 recommendations from the New York State Education Department’s Blue Ribbon Commission into action through four transformations: Adopt a NYS Portrait of Graduate, Redefine Credits and Learning Experiences, Sunset Diploma Assessment Requirements and Move to One NYS High School Diploma.
On Wednesday, March 19, Dutchess BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Jodi DeLucia and Rebecca Green, executive director of Educational Resources, gave the keynote at the Dutchess and Orange County School Counselor Professional Development Day at DCC at Fishkill.
The pair shared the transformations, including the draft portrait of a New York State Graduate. The Portrait highlights seven skills that students must be proficient in upon graduation. Aside from meeting proficiency in the Learning Standards, each student must exhibit their proficiency as a Critical Thinker, an Innovative Problem Solver, be Literate Across the Content Areas, have Cultural Competence, Social-Emotional Competence, be an Effective Communicator and a Global Citizen.
“The department plans to refine the attributes of the Portrait of a Graduate to ensure they are comprehensive and inclusive of the Blue Ribbon Commission’s intent,” they said.
Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in a variety of ways under the second transformation, redefining credits. “Students will have a choice and flexibility in the options they use,” Green said. These might include work- or service-based learning experience, a capstone project, early college high school/PTECH, high school courses, NYSED-approved career and technical programs, participation in the arts, earning NYS credentials or seals, passing approved assessments or high school courses.
NY Inspires is in the planning stage through the summer, though two elements are already in place, Green said. Earlier this year a process was approved so parents can request a diploma and districts can issue one posthumously. This month, an exemption for major life events debuted. A parent, teacher, counselor, principal or anyone filling a parental role in the case of an accident, death in the family, medical treatment and other trauma, can request it. NYSED is also putting together workgroups, advisory committees and communication channels to share information. The final major elements which are part of NYSED’s planning are defining each Portrait of a Graduate requirement and adopting it for use. The timeline for other phases is as follows:
- Phase 1, installation, will take place from Fall 2025 to Summer 2027 and include the release of the portrait rubrics and learning expectations.
- Phase 2, initial implementation, will be from Fall 2027 to Summer 2029 and include the move to one diploma, the sunsetting of the diploma requirements and redefining seals and endorsements, redefining credit to expand ways to earn credit. Students entering grade 9 in 2027 will have to earn one CTE credit, which could include financial literacy. This phase will also include guidance to help districts implement the portrait, professional learning opportunities and regional learning networks.
- Phase 3, full implementation, begins in Fall 2029 and continues. The new system will be phased in with students entering grade 9 in the 2029-30 school year. A new statewide transcript will be required.
“In general, the message of allowing more aligned and individualized opportunities for students to show proficiency was well-received,” Green said. “Overall, it was a positive experience and the counselors left looking for more guidance.” As NYSED rolls more guidance out, Dutchess BOCES will continue to support educators throughout Dutchess County with information on NY Inspires through professional development and timely updates.
For more information on the new graduation measures, visit www.nysed.gov/grad-measures.