Healey-Driscoll Administration Releases Vision of a Massachusetts High School Graduate
New statewide vision outlines six key skills and competencies
to prepare high school students for college, career and civic life
ATTLEBORO— The Healey-Driscoll Administration today released its Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate, an aspirational outline for how a Massachusetts high school diploma can prepare students—regardless of zip code, identity, or background—for success after graduation.
“Massachusetts has always led the way in education, and this Vision of a Graduate builds on that legacy,” said Governor Healey. “We all need to work together to make sure our young people are prepared not only with strong academic skills but also with the problem-solving, collaboration and leadership abilities they’ll need to succeed in every aspect of life.”
“This vision reflects what our educators, students, families and community leaders have told us they want for our young people,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This is about developing self-aware, confident graduates who can work with others, make thoughtful decisions, and contribute meaningfully to their schools, workplaces and communities.”
Massachusetts graduates will be:
Thinkers
Academically Prepared: Graduates have a strong foundation across academic disciplines, equipping them with both the knowledge to thrive in college, career, and civic life and the skills to be lifelong learners.
Critical Problem-Solvers: Graduates critically examine information to draw connections, question assumptions, infer meaning, and shape solutions.
Contributors
Self-Aware Navigators: Graduates understand themselves, their strengths, and their opportunities and can effectively leverage their unique skills to navigate a variety of paths and environments.
Intentional Collaborators: Graduates engage respectfully and productively with diverse individuals and groups, recognizing the value of their unique perspectives, identities and experiences as well as those of others.
Leaders
Effective Communicators: Graduates confidently and clearly express their ideas to diverse audiences across a variety of mediums.
Responsible Decision-Makers: Graduates can set and pursue personal goals, make healthy and financially sustainable choices, and demonstrate confidence and competence in shaping their lives.
“The Vision of a Graduate gives us a thoughtful, unifying blueprint for what it means to graduate high school in Massachusetts,” said Education Secretary and Statewide K-12 Graduation Council Co-Chair Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “It emphasizes that every student has the capacity to be a thinker, contributor, and leader and that our job as educators and communities is to nurture those qualities every step of the way.”
“Through the important work of this council and the contributions of school districts and other stakeholders, we have defined key competencies high school graduates need,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner and Statewide K-12 Graduation Council Co-Chair Pedro Martinez. “There is a shared understanding that students should graduate with the skills needed to make decisions responsibly, contribute meaningfully to civic life and be prepared for postsecondary education.”
“A student’s K-12 experience has a tremendous impact on the path they choose after high school, along with how they are set up to succeed in their post-secondary education and careers,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “I’m grateful that the Statewide Graduation Council is moving forward with a vision that focuses on the whole student and how they engage with information, their communities, and challenges that present themselves.”
Governor Healey created the Statewide K-12 Graduation Council in January through Executive Order. The Council has met multiple times throughout the spring and summer to study and review current graduation standards across the country, assess existing graduation requirements in local school districts, and gather feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders, including students, families, educators, administrators, higher education experts and business leaders. The Council conducted eight in-person and virtual listening sessions across Massachusetts, including one dedicated entirely to students. More than 400 educators, advocates, parents, students, business leaders, labor organizers and stakeholders participated in these listening sessions. The Grad Council also conducted a statewide survey that garnered feedback from 6,615 respondents. Additionally, 103 Massachusetts educators participated in a separate district leader survey.
The Graduation Council will unveil its initial findings for a statewide graduation standard later this fall, with a final report and proposed roadmap coming next year. The recommendations will include rigorous learning experiences and a mechanism to give the state confidence that all students are meeting these high expectations. The council will continue to meet to finalize those recommendations and to continue building consensus with many stakeholders.
The Graduation Council chose to unveil its Vision of a Graduate at Attleboro High School because the school’s efforts around career-connected courses, Early College, and its own “Portrait of a Graduate” framework aligns closely with the council’s goals and objectives.
“The City of Attleboro is committed to providing an exceptional education to every student in the community, and we are immensely proud of all of our students and educators,” said Attleboro Mayor Cathleen DeSimone. “As a Gateway City, our big, beautiful comprehensive high school stands as direct proof of that pride and commitment, and our belief that a quality education is the key to success in college, careers, and civic life. We are grateful to Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll for leading the effort to create the Vision of a High School Graduate and for ensuring that high school students in Attleboro and the Commonwealth leave high school with the skills they need to succeed in life.”
“Here in Attleboro, we are using our Portrait of a Graduate not only to better answer the fundamental questions about why we do what we do, but more importantly, to create a bright throughline for all our educational experiences from preschool through graduation,” said Attleboro Public Schools Superintendent David Sawyer. “Attleboro High School is already a leader in comprehensive education, and we embrace the effort to support the postsecondary success of all students.”
“Ensuring that every student who graduates from a Massachusetts school meets clear, consistent, and rigorous standards is not only critical to student success beyond the classroom-- it's also about fairness and opportunity,” House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “The House is grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and to the Graduation Council for their ongoing work towards establishing a statewide standard that reinforces the high expectations that all students across the Commonwealth deserve.”
Learn more about the Graduation Council and work at Mass.gov/K12GradCouncil.
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