Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Iowa Joins National Coalition To Bring 21st Century Skills To Education
Statewide Initiative Supports Governor’s 2010 Goal; Seventh State to Join National Partnership for 21st Century Skills
(Des Moines, Iowa)- Today, Iowa Governor Culver announced a joint initiative with the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, the nation’s leading advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education, to bring globally competitive 21st century teaching and learning skills to schools, educators and students throughout Iowa.
The announcement makes Iowa the seventh state to join the Partnership’s State Leadership Initiative.
“Times have changed and Iowa students need to understand areas such as finance and technology to compete in today’s global society,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey. “Skills like critical thinking or cross cultural understanding are essential because employers are looking for employees who can solve problems creatively and adapt to various roles and responsibilities.”
This announcement is a significant boost to Iowa’s two-year initiative to incorporate 21st century skills into classroom content areas. These skills include civic literacy, health literacy, technology literacy, financial literacy, and employability skills.
Ken Kay, president of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, commended Iowa for its work to date on emphasizing 21st century learning outcomes. “I applaud the foundation that leaders in Iowa have laid to ensure the curriculum, teaching and fabric of the educational system is working to prepare students for success in our interconnected global economy,” Kay said. “Incorporating 21st century interdisciplinary themes and learning projects into core curriculum engages students and helps them acquire essential life-long 21st century skills.”
By joining the Partnership’s State Leadership Initiative, Iowa’s work will be further enhanced by the Framework for 21st Century Learning which builds upon core subject expertise and emphasizes the skills, knowledge and expertise today’s students must master to compete globally and become successful 21st century citizens. The Framework also defines how school systems can best support 21st century education outcomes by focusing diligently on 21st century standards, assessments, professional development, curriculum, and instruction, and learning environments.
Iowa joins a growing network of states that have pledged their support to developing a framework for 21st century learning outcomes. Currently, six additional states, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are members of the Partnership’s State Leadership Initiative. As a member of the Partnership’s State Leadership Initiative, Iowa’s progress, best practices and resources will be shared on Route 21, an online, one-stop shop for 21st century skills-related information, resources and tools, so other education leaders and policymakers can replicate successful practices used to implement 21st century teaching and learning.
Please visit www.iowa.gov/educate and go to “Latest News” to hear a podcast about Iowa’s work with the Partnership’s State Leadership Initiative.
About the Partnership for 21st Century Skills: The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is the leading advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education. The organization brings together the business community, education leaders, and policymakers to define a powerful vision for 21st century education to ensure every child's success as citizens and workers in the 21st century. The Partnership encourages schools, districts, and states to advocate for the infusion of 21st century skills into education and provides tools and resources to help facilitate and drive change.