This brief examines the rising adoption of Portraits of a Graduate (POGs) as a way to define essential student competencies for success beyond high school. Driven by the need for 21st-century skills, increased flexibility under the Every Student Succeeds Act, and a desire for locally relevant education, POGs offer a holistic and adaptable framework. This brief explores how states and districts are developing and implementing POGs to support personalized learning, equitable opportunity, and community involvement. It provides a national overview of POG practices, helping interest holders understand the evolving role of POGs in modern education systems. 

Correction: The map on page 4 has been updated to correctly reflect state-led and locally-led POGs. We thank our readers for bringing this to our attention.

To learn more about POGs, download our So, You Want to Create a Portrait of a Graduate? brief.