TMCnet News
P21 and Pearson Foundation Launch 21st Century Learning Exemplar ProgramWashington, D.C., Feb 04, 2013 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), the leading organization advocating for 21st century readiness for every student, and the Pearson Foundation, today announced the launch of the 21st Century Learning Exemplar Program, a new collaborative effort to identify and document exemplary 21st century learning practices that are improving student learning in classrooms and communities across the United States. The Exemplar Program will document and celebrate the wide variety of ways local schools and communities have embraced the P21 Framework to increase educational options and outcomes for all children. As part of the initiative, P21 and the Pearson Foundation will together develop 25 initial case studies cataloging exemplary 21st century learning practices. The Exemplar Program will draw on a broad range of school models, from P21 state partners, P21 members, and the greater 21st Century Skills community. "While the purpose of the Exemplar Program is to highlight successful implementation of the Framework for 21st Century Learning, it also provides an opportunity to explore and document critical areas of the 21st Century Skills movement, including career readiness, Common Core State Standards implementation, and 21st century citizenship," said Dr. Helen Soulé, P21 Executive Director. "The Exemplar Program will also help highlight the important ongoing work that states, schools, and districts are undertaking in implementing 21st Century Skills." "Helping to document and share exemplary instances of all that's working in education is a long-standing aim of the Pearson Foundation," added Kathy Hurley, long-time P21 board member and Executive Vice President of Education Alliances at the Pearson Foundation. "Helping P21 showcase exemplary learning practices from across the United States will help show all that's possible when teachers and students make use of the formal and informal skills that P21 champions." The Exemplar case studies will also allow P21 and the Pearson Foundation to identify those innovations and learning conditions that can serve as the foundation for the creation or expansion of specific policy recommendations. P21 is currently developing a comprehensive rubric in collaboration with leading experts to identify the initial set of case studies. Following the release of the case studies, the parties will embark on a national tour with events in select cities to focus attention on successful model schools and programs implementing 21st Century Skills. "We are frequently asked what 21st century learning looks like and where it can be seen," said Frank Gallagher, P21 Chair and Executive Director of Cable in the Classroom. "The Exemplar Program answers those questions by illustrating, documenting and celebrating the work of many innovative 21st century schools. We are grateful that the Pearson Foundation recognizes the importance of this project and appreciate their support and involvement." Pearson Foundation media contact: Stacey Finkel (Stacey(dot)finkel(at)pearsonfoundation(dot)org /703-304-1377) P21 media contact: Tatyana Warrick (tatyana(at)p21(dot)org / 202-312-6430) ### About P21: P21 is a national organization that advocates for 21st century readiness for every student. As the United States continues to compete in a global economy that demands innovation, P21 and its members provide tools and resources to help the U.S. education system keep up by fusing the 3Rs and 4Cs (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity and innovation). While leading districts and schools are already doing this, P21 advocates for local, state and federal policies that support this approach for every school. P21 Members: Apple Inc., Cable in the Classroom, Cengage Learning, Cisco Systems, Inc., The College Board's Advanced Placement Program (AP), Common Sense Media, Crayola, EdLeader21, EF Education, Education Networks of America, Follett, Ford Motor Company Fund, Goddard Systems Inc., Intel Corporation, JP - Inspiring Knowledge, LEGO Education, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, National Education Association, Pearson Foundation, Project Management Institute Educational Foundation, VIF International Education, The Walt Disney Company, and Wireless Generation. P21 Leadership States: Arizona, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Pearson Foundation: The Pearson Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to make a difference by promoting literacy, learning, and great teaching. The Foundation collaborates with leading businesses, nonprofits, and education experts to share good practice; foster innovation; and find workable solutions to the educational disadvantages facing young people and adults across the globe. More information on the Pearson Foundation can be found at http://www.pearsonfoundation.org. Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10394535.htm PRWeb.com |