21st Century Skills State Policy Initiatives: School Leaders' Views

Abstract

In April 2008, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education formed a Task Force on 21st Century Skills to assist the Board in considering how to infuse 21st century learning into the work of the state's public schools. The Task Force created recommendations related to five broad levers for change -- educator quality and support, standards, assessment, accountability and demonstration vehicles. During February and March 2010, the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy surveyed public school superintendents, principals and charter school leaders across the state to better understand the skills and knowledge administrators believe are most important for their students to acquire. As part of this online survey, administrators were asked to indicate the extent to which they believe the state should engage in particular initiatives that were recommended by the Task Force. This issue brief, "21st Century Skills State Policy Initiatives: School Leaders' Views", provides the percentage of administrators' agreeing with each of the Task Force's recommendations as well as considerations for state policymakers given administrators' responses.In addition to this issue brief, the Rennie Center's full report of all survey findings (Fall 2010) will provide a picture of school and district priorities for student learning statewide including the skills and knowledge school administrators believe are most important for their students to acquire. The report will also highlight school- and district-wide approaches to incorporating 21st century skills into teaching and learning as well as instructional practices