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. In addition to creating flexibility from seat time requirements, 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. In the past, state leaders have also awarded grants to public colleges and universities to expand dual enrollment offerings for high school students—particularly those from rural and under-resourced communities—so they can earn college credit while they are still in high school.
To build on these efforts, state leaders could ensure that every high school student has access to advanced courses, including dual enrollment and advanced placement programs, and explore opportunities for a statewide initiative with dedicated resources to incentivize community-informed high school redesign.
