Lately, we’ve been reading a lot about 21st century skills from those who see that idea as hollow and from those who see those skills as the ultimate preparation students must have. We feel plenty of heat in the words, but far less light. We urge staying focused on what really determines whether students succeed as learners and eventually as citizens and workers in a globally competitive society.

The real question is do we believe that children who score well on these standardized tests are ready for what they will face living and working in a rapidly evolving global community? We think not for at least two reasons.

First, the expectations we have set are too low to matter in a global context. Too often, our conversations about education get stuck in superfluous debate or very narrow terms—results on standardized, multiple choice tests. If the United States actually met the No Child Left Behind goal of all students “proficient” by 2013, students would still be underprepared – both in the depth of their knowledge and the breadth. Second, the narrow band of content on which we invariably have focused doesn’t approach real preparation for a world of disparate cultures and experiences. At the same time, being able to work collaboratively or communicate well is vacuous without something meaningful to contribute to the work or about which to communicate. As with much in education, the answer lies in skillful melding of powerful ideas. We can’t force more content into kids’ heads using the same means. We need to engage them through analysis, problem-solving and other skills now deemed “21st century.” Marrying content rich lessons with new ways of teaching and learning is the way to ensure students are prepared.

As we work to improve schools in America, our goal is a simple one—deliver an education that will assure students graduate ready for college and the careers of a global economy. The real challenge is that the demands our students face today are being dictated by a world in which change comes nearly as rapidly as information travels on the Internet. To meet these new demands, we have to think beyond our traditional constraints, to move beyond tried-and-true perspectives that don’t hold up to what we understand our students need.

The Global Partnerships Schools’ team will work with schools and school districts to ensure students are ready for the challenges they will face as adults, not simply for the next round of state tests. We will help schools and districts connect students with the global learning community and empower them to reach their potential and achieve success.

- Dr. Manny Rivera, CEO Global Partnership Schools
- Dr. Rudy Crew, President, Global Partnership Schools

Watch Dr. Rivera, Dr. Crew, and parents talk about the importance of a global education