HR 347 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

113th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 347CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide, develop, and support 21st century readiness initiatives that assist students in acquiring the skills necessary to think critically and solve problems, be an effective communicator, collaborate with others, and learn to create and innovate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 22, 2013CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. PETRI (for himself, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. HANNA, Ms. NORTON, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Ms. MOORE, Mr. GRIMM, and Ms. CASTOR of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the WorkforceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide, develop, and support 21st century readiness initiatives that assist students in acquiring the skills necessary to think critically and solve problems, be an effective communicator, collaborate with others, and learn to create and innovate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘21st Century Readiness Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Students must be prepared in core academic subjects.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Students must possess the skills to be able to think critically and solve problems, be effective communicators, collaborate with others, and learn to create and innovate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) In order for students in the United States to be prepared to succeed in citizenship and workplaces of the present and future, core academic subjects must be fused with critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation skills, as such skills are critical for success in the 21st century.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The work of the National Governors Association, along with the Council of Chief State School Officers, in developing a set of voluntary and internationally benchmarked national common standards in mathematics and English that include rigorous content and 21st century skills, is a positive development and should serve as a basis for incorporating those skills and other critical skills throughout other core academic subjects in the future. Federal policy must support State leadership and encourage continued State innovation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

Section 1001 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(13) fusing core academic subject knowledge mastery and higher-order thinking skills (such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation) to ensure that students can apply a range of skill competencies alongside content knowledge, and do so in real-world contexts.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. EVALUATING OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.

Section 1501(a)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6491(a)(2)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating subparagraph (O) as subparagraph (P); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after subparagraph (N) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(O) The extent to which fusing core academic subjects and higher-order thinking skills (such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation) to ensure that students can apply a range of skill competencies alongside content knowledge in real-world contexts leads to readiness for postsecondary education and careers.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. SCHOOL REFORM THROUGH 21ST CENTURY READINESS INITIATIVES.

Section 1606(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6516(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘and’ at the end of paragraph (10);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(11) includes a 21st century readiness initiative designed to fuse core academic subject knowledge and higher-order thinking skills (such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation) to ensure students can apply a range of skill competencies alongside content knowledge, and do so in real-world contexts; and’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION STRATEGIES THROUGH 21ST CENTURY READINESS INITIATIVES.

Section 1822(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6561a(b)(1)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(K) implementing 21st century readiness initiatives, such as initiatives that fuse core academic subject knowledge and higher-order thinking skills (such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation) to ensure students can apply a range of skill competencies alongside content knowledge, and do so in real-world contexts.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AROUND 21ST CENTURY SKILLS.

Section 2102 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6602) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT- The term ‘high-quality professional development’ means professional development that incorporates an aligned system of teaching and learning that includes 21st century skills (such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation), standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessments, such as high-quality professional development that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) ensures that educators understand the importance of 21st century skills and how best to integrate such skills into daily instruction;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) enables collaboration among all participants;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) allows educators to construct their own learning communities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) uses expertise within a school or local educational agency through coaching, mentoring, and team teaching;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) supports educators in their role as facilitators of learning; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) uses 21st century skills technology tools.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION.

Section 2122(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6622(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(12) A description of how the local educational agency will provide high-quality professional development to enable educators to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) deliver instruction on higher-order thinking skills (such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation) to ensure that students can apply a range of skill competencies alongside core academic subject knowledge, and do so in real-world contexts; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) use the latest available technology to deliver instruction on higher-order thinking skills.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING.

Section 2123(a)(3)(B) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6623(a)(3)(B)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in clause (iv), by striking ‘and’ at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in clause (v), by striking the period at the end and adding ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(vi) provide training on how to deliver instruction on higher-order thinking skills (such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation) so that students can apply a range of skill competencies alongside core academic subject knowledge, and do so in real-world contexts, which may include effectively integrating technology into curricula and instruction.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. EXPANDED 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER ACTIVITIES.

Section 4205(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7175(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘and’ at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end and adding ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(13) initiatives that allow students to apply a range of skill competencies (such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation) alongside core academic subjects, and do so in real-world contexts, which may include effectively using technology to improve student achievement.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 11. 21ST CENTURY READINESS ASSESSMENTS.

Section 6111(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7301(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) Developing or improving assessments that use technology to measure core academic subject knowledge and higher-order thinking skills (such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation) to ensure that students can apply a range of skill competencies alongside core academic subject knowledge, and do so in real-world contexts.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 12. 21ST CENTURY READINESS INITIATIVE DEFINITION.

Section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (43) as paragraphs (2) through (44), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting before paragraph (2), the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) 21st CENTURY READINESS INITIATIVE- The term ‘21st century readiness initiative’ means any initiative that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) embeds core academic subjects with critical skills; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) is focused on ensuring that students are prepared for postsecondary education and careers, upon graduation from secondary school.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink