Students from Citrus Valley High School, Redlands High School, Redlands East Valley High School and Orangewood High School participated in the annual Civics Day event with Redlands Unified School District (RUSD) on Feb. 5.

Students gained firsthand experience in district operations and learned the significance of active citizenship, local government and the democratic process. The initiative reflects RUSD’s Portrait of a Graduate: EMPOWER framework, particularly effective communication and collaboration, and online citizenship and global awareness, as students practiced civil discourse, explored diverse perspectives and strengthened their understanding of the role of civic leaders.

“Civics Day gives our students a meaningful opportunity to learn about their civic responsibilities and to better understand how their local school district and city government work together to serve the community,” RUSD Board President Michelle Rendler said. “Experiences like this help develop informed, engaged citizens who are prepared to contribute positively to society.”

The day began with a guided tour of district facilities, including the Service Center Warehouse and the Child Nutrition Services (CNS) central kitchen. There, students sampled potential new school meal items, such as the much-loved California roll sushi bowl, and provided their feedback to CNS leadership.

Next, participants gathered at the RUSD boardroom to shadow district leaders, including the board of education and executive cabinet members. After learning about their assigned roles, students engaged in a mock board meeting, roleplaying their positions as either board or cabinet members, hearing public comments and debating topics such as a districtwide cellphone policy, dress code guidelines, a districtwide artificial intelligence policy and a four-day school week.

“I got to be a part of the executive cabinet, specifically as assistant superintendent of educational services. It was really cool to see how much everything goes into making a decision at the board meetings,” said Aubrey Schan, a Redlands East Valley High School senior and current RUSD student board member.

Although she regularly participates in board meetings in her student trustee role, Schan said the experience gave her a deeper appreciation for the layers of collaboration and consideration behind each agenda item.

“It’s not just the board voting … it’s also cabinet members putting their input on so many different aspects on what goes into one simple policy,” Schan said. “There’s just so much going on that you don’t see, and that I got to appreciate today.”

A Portrait of a Graduate movement has been gaining popularity in California in recent years. It is a shared vision developed by a local educational agency in collaboration with its community. It defines the essential skills and attributes students should develop by the time they graduate. Most portraits go beyond academic achievement to include the broader competencies needed for students to thrive in a complex and evolving world.

“EMPOWER is more than a word. It’s a vision. Each letter represents a set of qualities and competencies we want to see in every graduate,” RUSD Superintendent Juan Cabral said in an introductory video. “These qualities reflect the value of our entire community, our staff, students, families and partners and the role we each play in preparing students for success beyond the classroom.”

Local graduate-portrait initiatives have caught the attention of the State Board of Education (SBE), which is developing a Portrait of a Graduate/Learner to support what every California student should know and be able to do when they leave school. The SBE hopes the portrait will help guide its decisions on curriculum, assessment and accountability, according to the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence.