Overview
The bipartisan Congressional 21st Century Skills Caucus was formed by Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI) and Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) in the 112th Congress and works with the Partnership for 21st Century Skills to provide a platform and ongoing forum that allows thought leaders, advocates, practitioners and organizations from the public and private sectors to brief Congress about the importance of 21st Century Skills toward readiness for college, career and life for every student.
Demands on our nation’s workforce currently require that students be fully equipped with proficiencies beyond the basics of reading, writing and math. 21st Century Skills and the ability to learn, apply, and adapt them to all subjects makes learning more rigorous, relevant and engaging and are becoming increasingly more important today for all students to be college and career ready. As the United States continues to compete in a global economy that demands innovation, we need to help our education system ensure students have both the right knowledge and skills to meet this challenge.
In carrying out this responsibility, the Caucus seeks to provide opportunities to host leading subject matter experts and model practitioners to speak and demonstrate to policymakers the importance of 21st Century Skills and the many ways they take shape in student preparedness. It will provide opportunities to connect likeminded and influential policymakers to these leading experts and allow them to discuss and collaborate on areas of mutual interest.
Membership
Latest News/Events
Resources
Membership:
We invite all Members of Congress to join us and support these important efforts. Below is a listing of Caucus members for the 113th Congress:
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Congressman Thomas Petri (R-WI) Staffer: Kevin James |
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Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) Staffer: Vonnie Hampel |
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Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC) Staffer: Jason Spear |
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Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) Staffer: Lynn Hommeyer |
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Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) Staffer: Margie Almanza |
Latest News & Caucus Events:
Global Awareness Education & Global Citizenship for the 21st Century
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Congressional Meeting Room North (CVC 268)
Come hear from experts in the field of global awareness education and citizenship and learn directly the impact this is having on student learning and success in the 21st century, including the D.C. Public Schools’ Embassy Adoption Program, which has been preparing 1,500 students annually with the opportunities to use 21st Century Skills to understand and address global issues.
Panel 1: “The need for global awareness education in the 21st century”
P21 Members will explain how global awareness education and the ability to think globally prepares students with 21st Century Skills and why that is necessary for student achievement and success.
Moderated by Liz Fogel, Walt Disney Company
Panelists:
- David Young, VIF International Education
- Kathleen Welling, EF Education First
- Scott Hirschfeld, U.S. Fund for UNICEF
Panel 2: “Student perspectives in global awareness education; the Embassy Adoption Program”
Moderated by Kate McNamee, D.C. Public Schools and Njambi Wynn, Washington Performing Arts Society
The student experience will be demonstrated by the embassy adoption program students and embassy and diplomatic officials in Washington, including:
- Ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde, Embassy of Finland
- Ms. Queenie Thompson, Spouse of the Ambassador of Fiji
- Ms. Salome Ramseier, Deputy Head of Communications and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Switzerland
Light refreshments will be served.
Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to attend.
Education for Life & Work: Developing Transferable Knowledge & Skills for the 21st Century Report Briefing
Monday, February 11, 2013
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Speaker: Margaret Hilton, National Research Council
Margaret Hilton of the National Research Council discussed alignment of the 21st century competencies highlighted in their report, "Education for Life and Work: Developing Transferable Knowledge & Skills for the 21st Century", with those in which P21 and its coalition of education, business, association, and many state and federal leaders recognize as essential for developing student readiness for college, career and citizenship. The 4Cs of creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking directly correlate to the three categories of 21st century competencies outlined by their report, which show “consistent, positive correlations with desirable education and career outcomes.”This report represents a strong conceptual shift signaling the continued growth of the 21st Century Skills movement – and should be regarded as a testament to the hard work being done by states and school districts in aligning curriculum and interdisciplinary integration across subject areas. Of particular interest are the real-world interconnections inherent in 21st century teaching and learning, which emphasize not just the acquisition, but the application of content knowledge and skills. The National Research Council also addressed the report’s recommendations for further research and for the involvement of the Federal government in continuing to pursue the important questions at the heart of the report.New P21 President Steve Paine joined Margaret at the end of her presentation and took questions from the audience and helped address specifically how this report impacts student learning in the classroom.
Download the presentation slides
Kickoff & Panel Discussion on Citizenship and 21st Century Skills
2261 Rayburn House Office Building
Thursday, September 20th, 2012
2:00 -3:30pm
Speakers: Offices of Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI) and David Loebsack(D-IA), Partnership for 21st Century Skills Chair - Frank Gallagher (Exec. Director, Cable in the Classroom), Michelle Herczog, Vice-President, National Council for the Social Studies, Mary Ellen Daneels, Social Studies Teacher, Community High School, West Chicago, Illinois.
The co-chairs of the Congressional 21st Century Skills Caucus, Rep. Tom Petri and Rep. Dave Loebsack, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), and the National Council for the Social Studies hosted a panel briefing of 21st century skills and citizenship.
This special event was held in recognition of Constitution Day and the 2012 elections, to highlight the work of the 21st Century Skills Caucus, and the changes that have occurred in our society and our democratic institutions as a result of profound changes in technology and globalization.
The audience heard from practitioners in the field of 21st century learning on building a foundation for successful civic knowledge, engagement, participation and education.
Rep. Petri opening up the Citizenship Panel (top)
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On May 18, 2012, Rep. Petri submitted comments for the official Congressional Record for his visits to Green Lake & Fond du Lac schools promoting the Congressional 21st Century Skills:
- Recognizing Fond du Lac School District for 21st Century Readiness
- Recognizing Green Lake School District for 21st Century Readiness
- On March 14, 2012, Rep. Petri and Rep. Loebsack officially registered the Congressional 21st Century Skills Caucus.
