The Transformation: Understanding New York’s Portrait of a Graduate

In July 2025, the New York State Board of Regents formally adopted the Portrait of a Graduate, a vision that reshapes what it means to earn a New York high school diploma. For nearly two centuries, Regents exams have been a defining element of the education system. While these exams have evolved over time from simple memorization to a greater focus on proficiency, they have often fallen short of fully capturing students’ true learning and potential. 

Beginning with the Class of 2031, Regents exams will no longer be required for graduation. This change introduces a broader approach that aims to prepare students for success beyond tests, equipping them to navigate a complex and interconnected world.

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The Six Attributes: What New York Expects of Its Graduates

The Portrait of a Graduate centers on six interconnected attributes, all grounded in Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education:

1. Academically Prepared – Demonstrates mastery of New York State learning standards with knowledge and skills for success in college, careers, and civic engagement
2. Effective Communicator – Articulates ideas clearly through speaking, writing, and diverse media for various purposes, while engaging with diverse audiences
3. Global Citizen – Acts responsibly and ethically within local, global, and digital communities, promoting sustainability and contributing to a culturally diverse, democratic society
4. Critical Thinker – Analyzes information thoughtfully, evaluates evidence critically, and identifies patterns across multiple content areas to address complex issues
5. Creative Innovator – Utilizes imagination, curiosity, and flexible thinking to solve problems creatively and adapt to evolving circumstances
6. Reflective and Future Focused – Engages in self-reflection, sets meaningful goals, maintains supportive relationships, and prioritizes social, emotional, and mental well-being

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The Challenge: What This Means for Schools Right Now

New York schools face an unprecedented transition. While the full implementation deadline is the 2029-30 school year, schools and districts must begin now to prepare:

• Reimagine curriculum to develop whole-child competencies, not just test-taking skills
• Design authentic assessments that demonstrate mastery of real-world skills
• Build inclusive learning communities where culturally responsive-sustaining education isn’t an afterthought but rather foundational
• Develop intercultural competence so students can navigate and thrive in our increasingly diverse, multilingual world

This is particularly urgent for world language education. As schools shift from test-prep models to competency-based learning, the demand for authentic language experiences and for qualified teachers who can facilitate them has never been higher.

Yet here’s the paradox: while New York demands that graduates become “Global Citizens” with cultural awareness and communication skills, one in eight teaching positions nationwide remain vacant or filled by unqualified instructors. The teacher shortage disproportionately affects world language programs, leaving schools unable to fulfill the very vision the Portrait of a Graduate demands.

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The Opportunity: Where Lenguas Club Enters

This is where Lenguas Club becomes more than just a solution; it becomes a strategic necessity. 

The Portrait of a Graduate emphasizes the importance of authentic communication, understanding diverse perspectives, and engaging as global citizens. This kind of learning goes beyond traditional instruction. The most effective approach is to promote direct interaction with people from diverse backgrounds, offer immersive cultural experiences, and create opportunities for communication that reflect real life. Lenguas Club delivers all of these crucial elements, supporting students as they grow into confident global citizens.

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The Alignment: How Lenguas Club Supports Each Portrait Attribute

1. Academically Prepared

What schools need: Students who master New York State learning standards and are equipped for college-level coursework.

How Lenguas Club delivers: Lenguas Club partners directly with classroom language teachers to complement, not replace, existing instruction. Our native Spanish teachers lead small-group, synchronous virtual sessions that closely align with each school’s curriculum. 

This collaboration supports and enhances what the classroom teacher is already delivering, creating authentic opportunities for students to engage with native speakers. This partnership model aligns with ACTFL guidelines and communicative language teaching approaches. As a result, students develop strong academic foundations in Spanish proficiency, cultural understanding, and communication skills. It also helps them succeed in checkpoint assessments and achieve recognition through the Seal of Biliteracy.

2. Effective Communicator

What schools need: Graduates who articulate ideas clearly, engage with diverse audiences, and listen actively.

How Lenguas Club delivers: Unlike traditional language classes that rely on textbook exercises, Lenguas Club prioritizes authentic, synchronous interaction. Students participate in real conversations with native speakers, discussing cultural topics, debating social issues, and navigating spontaneous dialogue. This approach mirrors the authentic communication skills that the Portrait of a Graduate emphasizes. In addition to their lead teacher, our students engage with many other teachers and native speakers from Latin America. This variety of voices and perspectives creates a rich community for authentic practice and growth.

3. Global Citizen

What schools need: Graduates who act ethically within global communities and promote cultural understanding.

How Lenguas Club delivers: Our sessions immerse students in Latin American culture through authentic experiences led by native speakers. Students do more than study Spanish-speaking communities; they engage directly with them, fostering cross-cultural relationships and empathy. This experiential approach develops ethical global citizens who understand and act responsibly in a connected world.

4. Critical Thinker

What schools need: Graduates who analyze information, evaluate evidence, and identify patterns across disciplines.

Our experiential learning approach engages students in practical activities such as analyzing authentic texts, participating in debates, solving real-world problems, and collaborating on projects. These hands-on experiences deepen cultural understanding and require students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills actively. Language learning becomes a dynamic process rooted in practical use rather than isolated exercises. This prepares students to think critically, not just in language class but across academic and real-life contexts.

5. Creative Innovator

What schools need: Graduates who utilize imagination and flexible thinking to solve problems and adapt.

How Lenguas Club delivers: Small-group sessions encourage students to take linguistic risks through creative exercises like storytelling, improvisation, and collaborative problem-solving. These activities nurture innovation by challenging students to adapt language use and test new ideas. This experiential framework builds cognitive flexibility and inventive thinking, essential for success in diverse environments

6. Reflective and Future Focused

What schools need: Graduates who reflect on their growth, set meaningful goals, and prioritize well-being.

How Lenguas Club delivers: Lenguas Club fosters a vibrant and supportive learning community where reflection is embedded throughout the language journey. Students engage regularly in self-assessments, goal-setting exercises, and guided reflections on their language skills and cultural understanding. 

Our teachers provide personalized feedback and ongoing mentorship, encouraging students to recognize their progress, embrace challenges, and cultivate the social-emotional skills necessary for future growth. With regular opportunities to connect and practice with peers and native speakers, students build confidence and motivation, developing not only language proficiency but also the reflective habits and mindset critical to success beyond the classroom.

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The Strategic Advantage: Why This Matters Now

Schools don’t have to wait until 2029-30 to begin preparing for the Portrait of a Graduate. Leading districts are already embedding these essential competencies into their teaching and learning today. Lenguas Club offers a clear and actionable pathway to support this transition:

• Immediate implementation: Our virtual sessions can start quickly, solving the stress of not having qualified instructors
• Authentic global experiences: Students engage in genuine intercultural interactions that build real-world competence, not simulations
• Curriculum alignment: Our programming integrates seamlessly with existing language courses and Portrait-aligned initiatives
• Teacher partnership model: We collaborate closely with existing language faculty, providing authentic native-speaker interactions that strengthen departments and enrich language programs
• Scalability: Whether supporting a single classroom or an entire district, Lenguas Club adapts flexibly to meet diverse school needs

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The Bottom Line

The Portrait of a Graduate represents a fundamental shift in what New York values in education. It’s a declaration that test scores aren’t enough; students must develop the competencies, awareness, and skills to thrive in an interconnected world.

Language education sits at the heart of this vision. To develop “Global Citizens” and “Effective Communicators,” schools need qualified teachers and authentic learning experiences. Yet the teacher shortage threatens to leave this vision unfulfilled.

Lenguas Club bridges that gap—not as a Band-Aid, but as a strategic solution grounded in proven pedagogical approaches and deep commitment to intercultural education.

For schools ready to prepare students for the Portrait of a Graduate framework, the time to act is now.

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Next Steps: Aligning Your School with the Portrait of a Graduate

If your school is ready to explore how authentic Spanish language education can support your Portrait of a Graduate implementation, we’re here to help.