> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.learningcommons.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# XQ Competencies

> Reference for XQ Competencies in Knowledge Graph: Learner Outcome, Domain, Competency, Component Skill, and Progression Level entities modeled as StandardsFramework and StandardsFrameworkItem, covering five durable-skill learner outcomes for grades 9–12.

[Dataset last updated August 12, 2026.](#dataset-release-history)

## Overview

The XQ Competencies dataset represents a research-backed durable skills framework based on the 5 XQ Learner Outcomes.

It describes how students develop each competency across a 4-step learning progression in high school.

|                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| :------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Source**           | [XQ Institute](https://xqsuperschool.org/) ↗'s *XQ Competencies*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **Supported grades** | 9–12                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Includes**         | <ul><li><strong>Holders of Foundational Knowledge</strong>: Core disciplines, Social Systems, Appreciating and Creating Art</li><li><strong>Masters of All Fundamental Literacies</strong>: Communicating and Receiving Ideas, Mathematical and Scientific Thinking</li><li><strong>Original Thinkers for an Uncertain World</strong>: Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Problem Seeking and Solving</li><li><strong>Generous Collaborators for Tough Problems</strong>: Interpersonal Skills, Social Awareness, Social Agency</li><li><strong>Learners for Life</strong>: Self-Awareness, Self-Directed Learning, Self-Management</li></ul> |

## Use cases

| Use case                                                                                | Examples                                                                                                 |
| :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Build rubrics and assess student work**                                               | Use progression levels to show where a student is now and what the next level of growth looks like       |
| **Tag AI-generated content**                                                            | Tag or align AI-generated content and activities to specific competencies and component skills           |
| **Map project- and work-based learning experiences to the durable skills they develop** | Map work-based or project experiences to the durable skills they develop                                 |
| **Localize a Portrait of a Graduate**                                                   | Connect a district's high-level durable skills goals to XQ's more detailed competencies and progressions |

## Schema

The data uses [Standards](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#entities) entities to represent **Learner Outcomes**, **Domains**, **Competencies**, **Component Skills**, and **Progression Levels** in a 5-level tree:

|                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Data model**                                                                 | <img src="https://mintcdn.com/czi-60a2a443/lmmW7u7D7sahe0jS/images/kg/xq-competencies.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=lmmW7u7D7sahe0jS&q=85&s=38ea26d05d68ca0b64bbb60c06475e05" alt="XQ Competencies data model diagram" width="2123" height="938" data-path="images/kg/xq-competencies.jpg" /> |
| [**Entities**](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#entities)           | <ul><li>[`StandardsFramework`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframework) (e.g., *XQ Competencies*)</li><li>[`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem) with 5 `statementType`s:<ul><li>**Learner Outcome** — Type of person the framework aims to develop (e.g. *Learners for Life*)</li><li>**Domain** — Group of related competencies under a Learner Outcome</li><li>**Competency** — Named durable skill within a Domain</li><li>**Component Skill** — Specific, teachable skill within a Competency</li><li>**Progression Level** — i.e., Emerging, Developing, Proficient, or Applying</li></ul></li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| [**Relationships**](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#relationships) | <ul><li>[`StandardsFramework`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframework) → [`hasChild`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#haschild) → **Learner Outcome** ([`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem))</li><li>**Learner Outcome** ([`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem)) → `hasChild` → **Domain** ([`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem))</li><li>**Domain** ([`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem)) → `hasChild` → **Competency** ([`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem))</li><li>**Competency** ([`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem)) → `hasChild` → **Component Skill** ([`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem))</li><li>**Component Skill** → `hasChild` → **Progression Level** ([`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem))</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

<Note>
  Domains have a null `description` value. Competencies have a full-prose
  definition (not a tagline) for the `description` field.
</Note>

## Usage details

|                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| :--------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Requires files from other datasets**   | None                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| **References files from other datasets** | None                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| **REST API endpoints**                   | <ul><li>[Durable Skills Frameworks](/api-reference/durable-skills/durable-skills-frameworks)</li><li>[Durable Skills](/api-reference/durable-skills/durable-skills-in-a-framework)</li><li>[Search Durable Skills](/api-reference/durable-skills/search-durable-skills)</li></ul> |

## Dataset release history

| Date            | Changed                                                                 |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| August 12, 2026 | First release - added domains and domain references for each competency |

## Related topics

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Standards schema reference" icon="graduation-cap" href="/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards">
    Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for the shared
    `StandardsFramework` and `StandardsFrameworkItem` model.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Durable Skills API reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference/durable-skills/durable-skills-frameworks">
    Query durable skills through the REST API — list frameworks, browse a
    framework's skills, and search by keyword or statement code.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>