Results That Matter: 21st Century Skills and High School Reform

Author: Partnership for 21st Century Skills
Publisher: Partnership for 21st Century Skills
Publication Date: 2006, March
Full text available online at: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/documents/RTM2006.pdf

Abstract (written by WestEd)

This report advocates that current American high school education (in particular, the education mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act) does not adequately prepare American students to make informed life choices, participate effectively in civic life, and compete in the world economy. It exhorts policymakers and other educational leaders to create high schools that provide students with the content knowledge and skill sets that all students need to learn, including both core subject mastery and 21st century knowledge and skills. The six key elements of 21st century learning are:

1. Core subjects: English, reading, or language arts; mathematics; science; foreign languages; civics; government; economics; arts; history; and geography
   
2. 21st century content, including global awareness; financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy; civic literacy; and health and wellness awareness
   
3. Learning and thinking skills, including critical-thinking and problem-solving skills; communication skills; creativity and innovation skills; collaboration skills; contextual learning skills; and information and media literacy skills
   
4. Information and communication technology literacy
   
5. Life skills such as leadership, ethics, accountability, adaptability, personal productivity and responsibility, people skills, self-direction, and social responsibility
6. 21st century assessments— if we truly value the first five key elements of 21st century learning, then we must assess them.

The report then advises how state policymakers, district and school leaders, and business and community groups can support the effort to impart 21st century skills to high school students. It concludes by stating that students need different skill sets for an economy that increasingly runs on information, knowledge, and innovation.