Overview
State leaders in Pennsylvania have adopted a number of policies that can serve as a launching pad for communities seeking to reimagine high school learning for students. State leaders have established five different competency-based pathways for students to demonstrate their learning and earn credit. While the state has not yet developed a Portrait of a Graduate, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has published a continuum of career-ready skills aligned to competencies and related employability skills that students should master at different grade levels. State guidance regarding work-based learning provides school systems with information related to the implementation of high-quality programs that prepare students for the workforce while simultaneously allowing them to earn credit towards graduation.
To build on these efforts, state leaders could explore opportunities for a statewide initiative with dedicated resources to incentivize community-led high school redesign.
