The State Board of Education launched the FutureReady initiative in the summer of 2024 with the aim of updating graduation requirements to better prepare students for the future. 

The Board recognizes that meaningful reform cannot be achieved by its efforts alone. Robust stakeholder engagement and public involvement are essential to developing a framework that reflects our educational community's diverse perspectives and priorities. To this end, the Board is convening a task force with subcommittees and community liaisons to facilitate comprehensive stakeholder engagement aimed at informing the Board’s proposal development. This structured approach will ensure that the voices of various stakeholders, especially those historically underserved by the education system, are heard and integrated into the development process.

Timeline

The initiative is expected to span multiple years, culminating in a legislative proposal anticipated for the 2027 session. Along the way, the initiative will reach key milestones, including a budget request to the Legislature and interim reports with findings and recommendations, with a commitment to transparency and adaptability based on stakeholder input and resource availability. 

Phase I 

During Phase 1, the task force will work through a process of level setting, visioning, gap analysis, and scoping. This will determine the range of topics and issues that need to be considered by the task force. This work will also inform what subcommittees are needed for deeper dives on topics or issues requiring subject matter expertise. Phase II 

Using the work from Phase I as a guide, the task force and Board will work in partnership with community stakeholders to develop a set of recommendations for updating high school graduation requirements. Throughout this process, the task force and Board will consider input from the community at large. 

Phase III 

The State Board of Education, in consultation with the task force, will adapt these recommendations into a legislative proposal to be submitted during the 2027 Legislative Session. 

Task Force Meeting Dates

* Dates are Tentative and Subject to Change

Task Force Membership

The FutureReady Task Force brings together approximately 30 members representing students and families, community-based organizations, K-12 education, post-secondary education, employers, and policymakers. In identifying task force members, the Board prioritized geographic diversity, representation from various learning environments, and voices from communities that have been historically underserved by the education system. The goal was to include those most affected by graduation policies and those who have traditionally been excluded from policy development.

Please note that the roles and organizational affiliations listed below are a simplification and do not fully capture the multiple hats and unique perspectives each member brings to the table.