Partnership President Ken Kay hailed the commitment to the Partnership made by Measured Progress and the other organizations represented on the board. “Their decision to join the Partnership is not only evidence of their commitment to bring 21st century skills to the nation’s students but also of the growing national momentum to ensure that U.S. students are successful citizens and workers in an increasingly globalized society and workforce,” he said. 

“Today’s students need to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, and effective communicators who are proficient in both core subjects and new 21st century skills,” Kay said. “The members of the Partnership are committed to ensure that U.S. students remain competitive internationally.” To that end, the Partnership has mapped out a Framework for 21st Century Learning. The Framework identifies four key student outcomes: core subjects and 21st century themes; learning and innovation skills; information, media, and technology skills; and life and career skills. The Framework also articulates support systems critical to reaching the outcomes: standards, assessment, curriculum and instruction, professional development, and learning environments. 

“The identified support systems are in perfect alignment with our primary focus at Measured Progress: to work with states, districts, and schools to get to the root of what needs to happen in the classroom to improve student learning,” Kahl said. “We have long been advocates of the value to student learning of relevant and rigorous standards, high-quality assessment tools—both commercial and teacher-driven—and educators who know how to drill down assessment results to truly inform curriculum and instruction.”

These convictions have informed Measured Progress’s nearly 25 years of service to state clients, ranging from item development to “soup-to-nuts” large-scale, statewide assessments, to professional development and assessment at the district level. In fact, Maine and Massachusetts, two of the company’s oldest clients, have joined the Partnership and committed to develop state-based 21st century learning plans and implementation strategies. North Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have also signed on with the Partnership. 

Partnership states embrace seven key strategies to 21st century learning: high-profile leadership, broad consensus and shared vision, ongoing professional development in 21st century skills, standards and curriculum aligned with 21st century skills, 21st century assessment, effective communications, and aggressive implementation. These strategies resonate with Maine, the Partnership’s newest state member. 

“High school graduates need a global awareness; work skills that include team building; creativity and innovation; critical thinking and problem solving; self motivation and self direction; information, communications, and technology literacy; as well as high levels of literacy and numeracy,” said Maine Education Commissioner Susan Gendron. “If we think we can let some of our students graduate with less than that and still succeed, then we are fooling ourselves,” she said. 

Pat Ross

Visit Partnership for 21st Century Skills for more information. 

Read more about Maine’s entry into the Partnership.