A toolkit was launched last week to guide state education
leaders in aligning the common core standards with 21st Century
Skills. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), a
coalition of education, non-profit and business leaders,
presented the kit at their annual meeting. Most states have
chosen to adopt the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and are
in the process of designing curricula. By developing frameworks
that integrate core academic content with other skills needed in
the workplace – namely critical thinking and problem solving,
collaboration, communication, and creativity and innovation –
P21 believes that states will provide a more comprehensive
education that fully prepares college- and career-ready
students. Career Technical Education (CTE) programs provide an
opportunity for students to attain relevant knowledge and 21st
Century Skills through real-life experiences in high-demand
fields. For more information on the toolkit, click here. Kara
Herbertson, Education Policy Analyst, firstname.l