An Act developing a Portrait of a Graduate

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dan Cahill and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a statewide Portrait of a Graduate with seven core competencies to guide high schools in shaping curricula, assessments, and student development.

Senate concurred

Overview

Bill number: House Docket No. 4060 (HD 4060)

Title: An Act developing a Portrait of a Graduate

Purpose: Establish a statewide Portrait of a Graduate identifying seven competencies that high school graduates should have developed, and create a statewide resource to guide schools in fostering these competencies.

Status: Senate concurred

Introduced: February 27, 2025

Classification: Proposed bill

What the bill would do

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in partnership with local school districts and multiple partners, would develop a statewide Portrait of a Graduate.

The Portrait would identify seven core competencies that students are expected to develop by graduation to help them thrive in the 21st century.

The creation of the Portrait would serve as a statewide resource for schools across the Commonwealth, providing guidance on outcomes for graduates.

Key provisions and elements

Partnerships: DESE would collaborate with:

School districts
Experts in social and emotional learning (SEL) in school settings
Massachusetts Association of School Psychologists
Wayfinder Inc.
Workforce development agencies
Other relevant stakeholders

Competencies: The bill specifies seven competencies; examples of these traits include:

Self-Awareness
Adaptability
Empathy
Collaboration
Agency
Purpose
Responsible Decision-making

Scope: The seven competencies are intended to be integrated into school planning and student development to guide curricula, assessments, and programs across the Commonwealth.

Nature of wording: The text indicates the seven competencies “may include” these traits, suggesting these are illustrative examples among the identified seven goals.

Who would be affected

Students: High school students would be the primary beneficiaries, with schools guiding their development toward the seven competencies.

School districts and schools: DESE’s guidance and the statewide Portrait would influence curricula, programming, professional development, and assessment practices.

Education professionals and partners: SEL experts, school psychologists, workforce development entities, and partner organizations would participate in designing and implementing the Portrait.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative actions:

Referred to the Senate Committee on Education (February 27, 2025)
Senate concurred (February 27, 2025)

Implementation timeline: The bill text does not specify a date-certain or funding plan for implementation. If enacted, DESE would lead development in partnership with the listed stakeholders, but specific milestones or a rollout schedule are not provided in the current text.

Potential impact (high level)

Provides a cohesive, standardized set of graduate-ready outcomes across Massachusetts.

Supports a shift toward competencies valued in modern education, including SEL, collaboration, and purpose-driven learning.

Encourages cross-sector collaboration among education, psychology professionals, and workforce development partners.

Bill