Focus shifts to skills over grades
CHENEY – Cheney Public Schools is moving towards the next phase of their strategic plan to guide to student success beyond academics. Director of Teaching and Learning, Kelly Niccols, presented the plan, which features two programs: Portraits of a Learner (POL) for elementary grades and Portraits of a Graduate (POC) for secondary students.
Niccols said that the district is hoping to create a student-centered system which emphasizes skill development and personal growth.
“Everything we do is for the benefit of the students,” she said. “It’s all centered on their well-being and showing their growth.”
Through a survey which will be open until Nov. 22, the district will gather input from students, parents, staff, and community members to decide which skills should be prioritized.
The framework prioritizes future-ready outcomes, personalized learning, and meaningful evidence of growth. Starting in kindergarten, students will build portfolios showcasing their skill development over their entire educational experience.
“This will go beyond traditional academic metrics,” Niccols said, explaining that the portfolios will focus on key skills, attributes and competencies to prepare students for their futures.
Board Members raised questions about implementation.
Director Mark Scott said, “Traditional academics makes logical sense, but I want to know if there will be any metrics that these soft skills can be measured by, and if this is going to be used to compare students to each other.”
Niccols clarified that the program is “not intended to be a measurement against other students,” and highlighted that the “emphasis should be on key skills they’ll be building,” noting that this portfolio isn’t intended for competitive assessment but for personal growth.
“It’ll help students think, ‘Here’s what I want to learn, here’s what I want to do with my life,” said Niccols.
Board President Henry Browne added, “It gives kids an idea of what they want to do, so they’re not entering college with no direction.”
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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