Arizona’s State 48 Graduate Profile: Redefining High School Graduation for the AI Era

In Arizona, a new statewide effort — the State 48 Graduate Profile — is reshaping what a high school diploma should represent in 2026 and beyond. After 15 months of engagement and thousands of community surveys, educators, employers, families and civic leaders agreed on a shared vision that treats graduation as a launchpad, not an endpoint.

Four Futures, Eight Essentials

Four Futures: The profile identifies four equally viable post-high-school pathways every graduate should be prepared to pursue: college or other postsecondary education, military enlistment and service, direct employment, and entrepreneurship.

Eight Essentials: The profile preserves core academic knowledge and literacy while elevating digital fluency, human (interpersonal) skills, and practical, real-world competencies required in a rapidly changing, AI-accelerated economy.

How the Profile Was Built

The effort began with a small group of leaders convened as H5 — superintendents, college presidents, CEOs and philanthropic partners focused on the intersection of high school, higher education and the high-skill workforce. Over time H5 grew to include more than 200 organizations representing every county in Arizona, spanning early childhood, PK–12, community colleges, universities, business and industry, workforce development, faith-based and nonprofit organizations, the military, government and philanthropy.

The design process was intentionally inclusive: thousands of Arizonans completed surveys and hundreds of focus groups, summits and listening sessions centered students, parents, educators, employers and community members. Workforce trends and emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence — were studied alongside community aspirations.

From Design To Adoption

Publishing the graduate profile is a major milestone, but adoption is the long-term task. Practical next steps include:

• Embedding the profile in kindergarten readiness and early childhood programs;
• Integrating it into PK–12 curricula, instruction, advising and accountability systems;
• Aligning out-of-school programs and extra-curriculars to reinforce mindsets, habits and skills;
• Coordinating higher education, employers and industry around credentials, internships and work-based learning tied to the profile.

Tools in development to support implementation include a statewide playbook called Permission Granted, a proposed regulatory sandbox to encourage local innovation, updated AI guidance, and additional resources to move from ideas to measurable impact. Students, families, educators and employers will be engaged throughout the rollout.

“This profile establishes a new north star for Arizona — aligning learning from day one to diploma and strengthening student outcomes and the state's economic competitiveness.”

Why It Matters

Arizona’s economy and workplaces are evolving quickly, yet education systems often lag. The State 48 Graduate Profile addresses a core gap: a shared definition of success. By pausing polarizing debates about funding, governance and school models, leaders could first answer a foundational question: what do we want for our children?

The coalition argues that the legacy model — what they call School 1.0 — was built for a different era. The state should accelerate toward School 2.0 now and plan for School 3.0 later, combining a modern vision for learning with new organizational approaches. Real impact will require long-term, cross-sector collaboration — not a single policy or institution.

With broad alignment and sustained investment, the State 48 Graduate Profile can help raise postsecondary attainment, prepare students for an AI-driven economy, and give Arizona a clearer competitive edge.