New Report Shows How School Districts Are Assessing Future-Ready Skills

Pearson and Digital Promise offer recommendations for assessing skills like critical thinking and communication in the K-12 classroom

HOBOKEN, N.J. — December 5, 2025 — As school districts across the country champion future-ready skills like critical thinking and collaboration, a crucial question has emerged: How do we know if students are actually learning them? A new report from the world's lifelong learning company Pearson and the global education nonprofit Digital Promise, called “Portraits in Progress: Emerging Future-Ready Skills Assessment Strategies,” provides the first comprehensive look at how innovative districts are moving from vision to practice.

The report addresses a common challenge for educators who have adopted Portrait of a Graduate—a framework defining the key competencies students need for success after high school. While these portraits are popular, assessing the skills deemed essential has proven difficult within traditional systems. “Portraits in Progress” bridges this gap by detailing the creative and practical assessment strategies being pioneered by U.S. school districts.

"Portraits in Progress" also builds on Pearson's existing efforts to prepare people with the skills they need today and for the future of work--from proprietary skills-centered research to early career programming to professional assessments and certifications.

Based on research with 16 school districts from across the U.S., "Portraits in Progress" finds that leaders are taking thoughtful approaches to measuring these skills, as well as communicating student performance:

• Performance-based tasks and curriculum-embedded activities that allow students to demonstrate skills in authentic contexts.
• Student-led “defenses of learning," where students present a portfolio of their work to a panel of educators and community members to demonstrate their skills and growth.
• Digital badges that certify skill attainment in a way that is motivating for students and succinctly communicates achievement to key stakeholders.
• Interactive simulations that use AI to provide students with timely, personalized feedback on their problem-solving and communications skills.

“This report highlights how school districts are developing practical ways to teach and assess future-ready skills like critical thinking and collaboration,” said Trent Workman, Managing Director of Pearson’s School Assessment division, serving K-12 education nationwide. “Their efforts reflect a growing momentum that, with the right support and alignment--whether through policy or funding--could scale these innovations and better prepare students for the demands of college, career, and life.”

A key insight from the report is districts’ prioritization of student growth and development of future-ready skills rather than reaching a set level of proficiency.  These districts are building systems that center students in their learning and foster skill development through feedback practices, student reflection, and an understanding that complex skills are developed throughout a lifetime.

Kyle Dunbar, Learning Experience Researcher at Digital Promise shared, "Districts want to foreground student metacognition--giving students the opportunity to reflect on their future-ready skill abilities. But districts also recognize that students benefit from expert feedback that is personalized and contextualized. Developing an assessment approach that is meaningful for students will bring together all of these components."

The report offers recommendations for district leaders and the broader K-12 field, calling for investment in valid and reliable measurement tools and frameworks, and for stronger alignment between K-12, postsecondary, and workforce systems to ensure future-ready skills are valued as meaningful learning outcomes. Finally, it encourages communities of practice that bring together district leaders, educators, and researchers to accelerate innovation.

The full report, Portraits in Progress: Emerging Future-Ready Skills Assessment Strategies, is available for download at Portraits in Progress: Emerging Future-Ready Skills Assessment Strategies.

About Pearson
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That's why our c.18,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world's lifelong learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. Visit us at plc.pearson.com. 

About Digital Promise
Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner. We work with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities to design, investigate, and scale innovations that support learners, especially those who’ve been historically and systematically excluded. Our vision is that every person engages in powerful learning experiences that lead to a life of well-being, fulfillment, and economic mobility. For more information, visit the Digital Promise website and follow @digitalpromise for updates.

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