Commissioner Rosa emphasized that education must be designed to meet students where they are and prepare them for where they want to go. She shared NYSED’s guiding vision that “education should be a canvas for every student’s future,” adding that it is the role of schools to provide students with “the canvas, the paints, and the brushes so they can become the artists of their own lives.” This vision is at the heart of NY Inspires, a statewide effort to expand project-based learning, internships, and hands-on experiences that connect learning to real-world challenges, student passions, and future careers.
Central to this work is the newly adopted New York State Portrait of a Graduate, approved by the Board of Regents in 2025. The Portrait defines the skills, knowledge, and dispositions students should demonstrate by graduation, expanding the meaning of academic success to include critical thinking, collaboration, communication, cultural responsiveness, and civic engagement. It serves as a unifying framework for districts as graduation pathways evolve, ensuring students across New York State experience rigorous, relevant, and future-focused learning.
The AASBA meeting provided an important forum for dialogue and shared purpose among regional education leaders. The evening reinforced a collective commitment to preparing students not only for college and careers, but for life as curious, compassionate, and capable contributors ready to meet the challenges of a changing world.
To learn more about the New York State Portrait of a Graduate visit: https://www.nysed.gov/grad-measures/new-york-state-portrait-graduate