Arizona Joins Partnership for 21st Century Skills

• By David Nagel
• 11/13/08

##AUTHORSPLIT##<--->

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills recently reported that Arizona has joined its State Leadership Initiative--the 10th state to join to date. According to the organization, this brings the total number of students reached to to 7.3 million.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a coalition of business and education groups focused on technology education and the integration of technology into education. The group provides the Framework for 21st Century Learning, which is a roadmap for education centered around technology and skills-focused learning. It also provides resources focused on providing information and tools for educators for boosting 21st century learning in K-12 through its Route 21 site. The State Leadership Initiative is geared toward building statewide programs to "reinvigorate learning to meet the demands of the 21st century."

Other states that have joined up with the Partnership include Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

"Joining the partnership is a decisive step toward providing all Arizona students with a rigorous, 21st century education system," said Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano in a statement released Thursday. "Our students will graduate with the necessary skills--like creativity, innovation and critical thinking--that employers around the globe increasingly demand of their employees."

The move is part of an initiative to "infuse 21st century skills into teaching and learning" in the areas of standards, assessments, professional development, teacher preparation, and youth development, according to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

Further information can be fund at the Partnership's site here.