The Fayette County Public School System has launched an exciting new project to identify the critical skills and competencies necessary for the county’s graduates to live quality lives, have successful careers, and compete in a rapidly changing world. 

The project, Portrait of a Graduate, is a national effort to redefine what education means in an ever-evolving world. It is customized according to each community's hopes and dreams for the coming generations.  

When completed later this year, Fayette County will have its own unique Portrait of a Graduate that will be used to strategically align curriculum and support services to ensure that all students possess vital skills needed for success upon graduation.   

"Our school system is among the best districts in the nation that are engaging in similar processes. Portrait of a Graduate has the potential to significantly enhance how we educate our young people," said Superintendent Dr. Joseph Barrow.  

The first part of the process includes a survey of key stakeholders, including the community. Nearly 600 students, teachers and support staff already have given input.  

"Gathering our collective wisdom will be the most important effort to reshape our aspirations for graduates that our community has undertaken in decades," said Barrow. "I urge everyone to take the survey and give us your best ideas on how to make our public education the best it can be for our students and our community."

The deadline for the survey responses is June 30.  It takes only two to four minutes to complete and can be accessed using this link: https://goo.gl/forms/IxCInBjTgpP5lqes1.

A five-minute video explaining the process is available on the Fayette County Public School System’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/BPmDfSQW6As.