The Portrait of a Learner (PoL) is a locally developed, community-informed vision that outlines the essential skills, knowledge, and dispositions every student needs to thrive in an ever-changing world. Rather than being a one-size-fits-all mandate, Kentucky's approach empowers each school and district—and the Commonwealth as a whole—to focus on developing durable competencies that prepare students to be successful citizens, employees, and people.
Whether a student is exiting elementary school, middle school, or graduating high school, the Portrait of a Learner offers a clear and inspiring vision for readiness—spanning civic life, career pathways, and postsecondary education.
Why Create a Portrait of a Learner?
In today's world, academic mastery alone is not enough. Our students also need to be strong communicators, collaborators, critical thinkers, and adaptable learners. Research consistently shows that students who develop these broader competencies demonstrate greater success in college, careers, and civic life (Pellegrino & Hilton, 2012).
A locally created Portrait of a Learner helps communities:
- Clarify what matters most for student success
- Design learning experiences that reflect real-world demands
- Partner across schools, families, and community organizations to create meaningful opportunities for growth
- Align educational practices with both Kentucky Academic Standards and future-ready skills
By naming and nurturing these broader competencies, the PoL brings purpose and coherence to the learning journey—and creates a shared language for what success looks like beyond the classroom.
Kentucky's Momentum
The Kentucky Portrait of a Learner is not a mandate—it is a powerful and voluntary strategy for building alignment across local communities and creating vibrant, future-ready learning experiences.
- Over 140 school districts across Kentucky have already developed and adopted their own Portraits—often referred to as a "Portrait of a Graduate"—rooted in their unique community values and aspirations.
- Many districts are now in the process of refining their implementation, using their local PoL to guide system-wide shifts in instruction, culture, and assessment.
- Districts are also designing high-quality performance assessments to measure and celebrate student growth, helping to document and demonstrate learner success in meaningful ways.
The Kentucky Portrait of a Learner initiative aligns with the Kentucky Academic Standards while emphasizing the broader competencies needed for success in the 21st century.
By centering learning around a shared portrait, Kentucky communities are coming together to ensure that all students leave school with the skills and confidence to lead fulfilling lives, contribute to their communities, and adapt in a rapidly evolving world.
Resources
To support your Portrait of a Learner journey, we offer the following resources:
Kentucky Portrait of a Learner Competencies - Visual representation of the Kentucky PoL with descriptions of each competency
Portrait of a Learner FAQ Document - Answers to commonly asked questions about developing and implementing a PoL
Developing Competencies, Performance Outcomes, and Indicators Guidance - Comprehensive guidance document to help districts create measurable outcomes aligned to their portrait 