FACT SHEET: S. 1175 & H.R. 2536, The 21 ST CENTURY READINESS ACT
Why is the 21 ST CENTURY READINESS ACT Needed?
Every child in America needs deep core subject knowledge and essential skills to succeed as effective citizens and workers in a demanding global economy. These demands on our nation’s workforce currently require that students be fully equipped with proficiencies beyond the basics of reading, writing and math. Skills known as the four Cs; Critical thinking and problem solving, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity and innovation, and the ability to learn, apply, and adapt them to all subjects are becoming increasingly more important for college and career readiness. Colleges and employers agree that students who learn to fuse subject knowledge and these skills in school are better prepared to enter the workforce.
However, these skills are not stressed in current federal education policy despite the fact that
16 states and many local school districts throughout the country continue to unite around a shared vision for student outcomes and success that are based on identifying and delivering rigorous content knowledge and skills that students need to be effective workers and citizens in the 21st century global economy. States realize we are in a skill-based economy and seek flexibility in federal education law that helps their education systems meet this challenge. This momentum isn’t sustainable unless federal policy recognizes and creates environments that support and encourage state and local innovation in this direction.
As our economy continues to rebuild and many citizens continue their search for employment, it is in our national interest that federal education policy support education readiness initiatives that fuse subject knowledge and skills to prepare and graduate students who are ready for the jobs in the 21 st century, to ensure U.S. competitiveness, and to help weather further economic downturns.
What Does The 21 ST CENTURY READINESS ACT Do?
This legislation serves as a catalyst for reform of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act (ESEA) and is designed to support state and district stakeholders achieve their goals of helping students gain content knowledge and essential skills throughout their standards, assessments, and professional development programs. It defines the need and importance of fusing core academic subjects with the four C skills and amends current federal law to allow states and districts to apply for and use federal grants already provided for under various titles of ESEA to develop, enhance, or expand 21 st century skills or readiness plans that fuse core subject knowledge and skills.
This legislation mirrors principles and recommendations the Partnership for 21 st Century
Skills released that demonstrate how fusing the four Cs and core subjects makes learning more rigorous, relevant and engaging and that it is necessary for readiness in college, work and life.
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Section by Section Summary:
S. 1175 & H.R. 2536, The 21 ST CENTURY READINESS ACT
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
21 st Century Readiness Act
SECTION 2. FINDINGS.
Students must be prepared in core subjects and possess the four Cs for success in the 21 st century. The common core state standards include reference to some 21 st century skills.
SECTION 3. COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
Include as a purpose and goal of Title I of ESEA to fuse core subjects and skills to ensure students can apply their knowledge in real-world contexts.
SECTION 4. EVALUATING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.
The law should take into account the extent to which fusing core subjects and skills and students application of that knowledge leads to readiness for college and careers.
SECTION 5. SCHOOL REFORM THROUGH 21 st CENTURY READINESS INITIATIVES.
Allows an initiative designed to fuse core subjects and skills to be considered part of an allowed school reform plan.
SECTION 6. SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION STRATEGIES THROUGH 21 st CENTURY
SKILLS.
Allows an initiative designed to fuse core subjects and skills to be considered part of an allowed school dropout prevention plan.
SECTION 7. HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES; 21 st
CENTURY SKILLS.
Includes a definition designed to help understand the components of 21 st century skills and supports to educators to achieve them.
SECTION 8. HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION.
Requires professional development providers demonstrate how they will provide educators instruction on how to fuse core subjects and skills and student application.
SECTION 9. HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING.
Allows grants to provide training on how to deliver instruction on fusing core subjects and skills and student application.
SECTION 10. EXPANDED 21 st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER
ACTIVITIES.
Allows grants to include initiatives that allow students to apply skills alongside core subjects.
SECTION 11. 21 st CENTURY READINESS ASSESSMENTS.
Allows state assessment grants to be used to develop assessments that measure subject knowledge and skills.
SECTION 12. 21 st CENTURY READINESS INITIATIVE DEFINITION.
Defines this initiative as one that fuses subjects and skills and focused on college and career readiness.