From Vision to Reality: A Cross-School Design Lab

The Challenge

Many Massachusetts schools have a Vision of a Learner but few have operationalized it into the classroom. The new MA graduation framework offers a historic opportunity to shift from seat-time to evidence-based competency determination. But it also brings a new challenge: How do you ensure proficiency is consistent and rigorous across every teacher and pathway?

The Opportunity

Join a small cohort of MA leadership teams to move beyond theory and into the practical details of learner-centered implementation.

• Analyze student work (Capstones, Projects, Portfolios) for inspiration from current bright spots
• Build a roadmap for competency determination that makes flexible pathways credible.
• Design proactive systems before state requirements lead to reactive scrambling.
• Collaborate with peers from across the region to shape innovation in MA.

This is not a sit-and-get workshop; it is a working lab. You bring the work; we provide the protocols and the peer network.

JUNE 9, 2026 | 9:00am–3:00pm | NEASC, Lowell The Strategic Retrospective Ideal for teams ready to reflect on this year’s student work while it’s fresh. We know June is a whirlwind—this date is for the lead teams who want to use the end-of-year momentum to marinate on designs over the summer.

AUGUST [DATE TBD] | NEASC, Lowell The Implementation Launch Ideal for teams seeking breathing room and a strategic head-start. We’ll focus on final state requirement clarity and setting the baseline for the 2026-27 school year.

Attend one or both. June’s reflections will directly inform August’s design sprint.

Morning: Student Work Analysis

• Use evidence-based protocols to analyze current capstone and portfolio artifacts.
• Where do we see Vision of a Learner competencies showing up (or not)?
• How do we build shared understanding across teachers and schools?

Lunch: Making Sense of the Moment

• A strategic briefing on new MA requirements as a lever for innovation, not just compliance.

Afternoon: Design Sprint Choose a focus area to build or refine your system:

• Capstone/Senior Project systems and rubrics.
• Portfolio structures that show longitudinal growth.
• Assessment protocols that validate non-traditional evidence.

What Makes This Different

✓ Cross-school learning - You'll work alongside 3-6 other MA schools, learning from each other's bright spots and challenges

✓ Real student work - We start with evidence, not theory

✓ Practical focus - You'll leave with tools, protocols, and next steps (not just inspiration)

✓ Competency determination lens - This is where the rubber meets the road: How do you actually validate that students have demonstrated your VoG competencies (and academic expectations)?

✓ Backstory included - Not just "here's what great looks like" but "here's how we got there" (and where we struggled)

Facilitators: Laurie Gagnon, Laurie Gagnon Consulting (Former Director of CompetencyWorks). Abby Benedetto, Core Shifts.

Hosted by NEASC | Limited to 45 participants to maintain a collaborative lab format.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

NEASC Office, 1115 Westford St, Lowell, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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