Recommendations from the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's Task Force on 21st Century Skills

Beginning with the Massachusetts Education Reform Act in 1993, the state has undertaken a broad initiative to improve student achievement and bring innovation and excellence to the public schools.

In 2008, Secretary of Education Paul Reville made a strong statement in support of this intitiative with the creation of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's Task Force on 21st Century Skills. The task force brought together members of the business, education, and technology communities to begin a conversation about the future of education in Massachusetts.

Secretary Reville selected Gerald Chertavian, CEO and founder of Year Up, to act as chairman of the task force. Primary Source Executive Director Kathy Ennis was selected to lead the teacher preparation and professional development subcommittee. After several months, the task force offered its recommendations for the creation of a model of education in Massachusetts that would instill its students with the 21st century skills necessary for success as global citizens.

Secretary Reville asked the task force to work within existing high school program standards in their recommendations for ways in which 21st century skills could be integrated into the curricula. Ultimately, the task force selected five main areas of reform: educator training and development, standards, assessment, accountability, and demonstration vehicles. Among the many recommendations made by the task force was a call for an overhaul of current educator training and professional development programs. Task force members also emphasized the importance of recruiting and retaining skilled, dedicated, and highly trained educators. As a leader in the field of professional development, Primary Source is committed to providing all teachers with the knowledge and resources they need to build students' cultural competency and awareness. Other recommendations include a stronger focus on 21st century skills in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and the creation of model 21st century schools and districts. The recommendations of the Task Force on 21st Century Skills offer valuable insight as we reassess the model of public education in Massachusetts, and seek ways to prepare our students to meet the challenges they will face after high school.