Kathleen Straus Chosen to Serve on National Task Force to Issue Recommendations on the Structure of Schools for Learning in the 21st Century

The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is pleased to announce that Kathleen Straus, chair of the Michigan State Board of Education, has been selected to serve on a year-long NASBE study group—The Structure of Schools: Time and Technology in 21st Century Learning—to examine the core principles and design elements required to develop and scale 21st century innovative learning environments.

The NASBE conducts annual study groups to inform the state education policymaking process on key issues, provide recommendations to state education policymakers across the nation, set organizational direction and priorities, and provide professional development to members of State Boards of Education. As a member of the 2010 national task force, Ms. Straus will meet with other state board members, researchers, and policy analysts to examine the complex issues related to transforming fundamental attitudes and approaches to teaching and learning to ensure the nation’s public schools produce graduates who are ready for a 21st century global lifestyle and workforce.

In order to provide students with the world-class education needed to succeed in a society that is connected and engaged virtually every hour of every day, policy leaders must craft an effective whole child, whole life approach that integrates academic progress with social, emotional, and health development.

Task force members will examine:

• Models for learning and instruction that reflect 21st century skills and lifestyles.
• Policy system supports and barriers to creating a true 21st century learning community.
• Common core standards and international benchmarks and their potential impact on innovation and creativity in establishing the 21st century school.
• The policy climate required for continuous adaptation of a 21st century school to new technologies and societal changes.

The study group will issue a comprehensive report in October 2010 at the NASBE Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. The group’s policy recommendations will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders including members of Congress, federal officials, governors, chief state school officers, and local education policymakers.