Portrait of a Graduate

Your Voice Matters - Take the Portrait of a Graduate Survey

Students today are preparing for a rapidly changing world, and we want to hear from educators, families, students, employers, and community members about the skills and experiences that matter most for their future success.

Please take five minutes to complete the Wisconsin Portrait of a Graduate survey and share your feedback (when prompted, use survey code 415-909-558).

Your input will help inform a statewide effort to define the knowledge, skills, and mindsets students need to thrive in school, careers, and life.

Preparing Our Students for Success Beyond School

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) is a statewide effort to define the knowledge, skills, and mindsets every Wisconsin student needs to succeed after high school—no matter the path they choose. Grounded in Wisconsin’s values and commitment to strong public education, the Portrait provides a shared vision for preparing students for college, careers, service, and life.

Aligned with DPI’s Strategic Plan Initiative 1: Modernizing Learning Environments, this work prioritizes educational innovation and student-centered learning. DPI is committed to supporting districts as they expand meaningful, real-world learning experiences and transition toward competency-based education.

The School Superintendents Association (AASA), is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in the creation of our statewide portrait of a graduate. This organization has helped to develop portraits for multiple states and hundreds of schools across the country.

At its core, the Portrait of a Graduate focuses on preparing students for real life by emphasizing essential skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, adaptability, and lifelong learning. Serving as a guiding vision for Wisconsin’s education system, the Portrait helps shape learning experiences and partnerships that support student success today and into the future.

Next Steps and Ways to Stay Involved

We invite students, families, educators, and community members to stay connected and engaged as this work continues. This page will serve as a central hub for updates, news, resources, and opportunities to provide feedback and participate in Wisconsin’s Portrait of a Graduate.

Learning Module: Establishing a Statewide Portrait of a Graduate

Preparing students for life beyond high school requires more than academics alone. The Portrait of a Graduate initiative defines the knowledge, skills, and mindsets students need to succeed in college, careers, and civic life.

We want to hear from you! Please take five minutes to complete our Portrait of a Graduate survey. Please use code 415-909-558 when prompted.

Can't make a listening session? This module highlights Wisconsin’s process for developing a shared, statewide vision through collaboration with educators, families, students, and community partners. It explores how a Portrait of a Graduate can guide teaching and learning to ensure all students graduate ready for their futures.

Next Steps and Ways to Stay Involved

Members of the DPI’s project team hosted virtual and in-person listening sessions across Wisconsin. These sessions provided opportunities to share perspectives, ask questions, and help shape the statewide Portrait of a Graduate.

Results from the listening sessions coming soon!

Wisconsin’s Roadmap to Portrait of a Graduate

Collaboration and co-design are central to this statewide effort. The Portrait of a Graduate is being shaped by many voices, including students, families, educators, employers, and community members from across Wisconsin. Through ongoing internal and external engagement, local perspectives help inform a shared, unifying vision that reflects both statewide priorities and community context. This inclusive approach ensures the Portrait is meaningful, relevant, and rooted in Wisconsin’s diverse experiences.

The 5-Phase Journey (October 2025 - October 2026)

The DPI’s 5-Phase Journey is a yearlong process to develop a shared, statewide Portrait of a Graduate—a clear vision for the skills, mindsets, and knowledge Wisconsin students need for future success.

Phase 1: Internal Alignment
The work begins by looking inward. DPI focuses on aligning leadership and internal teams by developing shared communication tools and resources to ensure a common understanding and consistent vision across the agency.

Phase 2: Steering Committee Launch
Next, DPI convenes a diverse steering committee to co-design the statewide engagement process. Facilitated by AASA, the committee includes partners from across Wisconsin, such as other state agencies, family and student advocacy groups, institutions of higher education, and workforce representatives.

Phase 3: Stakeholder Engagement
With guidance from the steering committee, DPI engages communities statewide through listening sessions in 12 locations and digital survey tools. This phase centers on gathering broad input from students, families, educators, and community partners.

Phase 4: Data Synthesis and Drafting
All feedback is analyzed to identify key themes and priorities. These insights inform the development of a draft Portrait of a Graduate framework that reflects voices from across the state.

Phase 5: Validation and Refinement
The draft Portrait is shared statewide for final feedback. This input is used to refine and finalize the Portrait of a Graduate before its official launch.