Learning and 
Innovation Skills – 4Cs 
Core Subjects – 3Rs 
and 21st Century Themes 
Critical thinking • Communication 
Collaboration • Creativity 
21st Century Student Outcomes 
21st Century Satundde nStu Opputocrotm Seys satnedm Suspport Systems 
Framework for 
21st Century Learning 
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has developed a vision for student success 
in the new global economy. 
One Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001 202-312-6429 www.P21.org 
2 1 S T C E N T U R Y S T U D E N T O U T C O M E S 
To help practitioners integrate skills into the teaching of core academic subjects, the Partnership has 
developed a unified, collective vision for learning known as the Framework for 21st Century Learning. 
This Framework describes the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in 
work and life; it is a blend of content knowledge, specific skills, expertise and literacies. 
Every 21st century skills implementation requires the development of core academic subject 
knowledge and understanding among all students. Those who can think critically and communicate 
effectively must build on a base of core academic subject knowledge. 
Within the context of core knowledge instruction, students must also learn the essential skills 
for success in today’s world, such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication 
and collaboration. 
When a school or district builds on this foundation, combining the entire Framework with the 
necessary support systems—standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction, professional 
development and learning environments—students are more engaged in the learning process and 
Publication date: 03/11 graduate better prepared to thrive in today’s global economy.
One Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001 202-312-6429 www.P21.org 
Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes 
Mastery of core subjects and 21st century themes is essential to student success. Core subjects 
include English, reading or language arts, world languages, arts, mathematics, economics, science, geography, 
history, government and civics. 
In addition, schools must promote an understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 
21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects: 
• Global Awareness 
• Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy 
• Civic Literacy 
• Health Literacy 
• Environmental Literacy 
Learning and Innovation Skills 
Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life 
and work environments in today’s world and those who are not. They include: 
• Creativity and Innovation 
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 
• Communication and Collaboration 
Information, Media and Technology Skills 
Today, we live in a technology and media-driven environment, marked by access to an abundance 
of information, rapid changes in technology tools and the ability to collaborate and make individual 
contributions on an unprecedented scale. Effective citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of 
functional and critical thinking skills, such as: 
• Information Literacy 
• Media Literacy 
• ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy 
Life and Career Skills 
Today’s life and work environments require far more than thinking skills and content knowledge. The ability 
to navigate the complex life and work environments in the globally competitive information age requires 
students to pay rigorous attention to developing adequate life and career skills, such as: 
• Flexibility and Adaptability 
• Initiative and Self-Direction 
• Social and Cross-Cultural Skills 
• Productivity and Accountability 
• Leadership and Responsibility 
2 1 S T C E N T U R Y S U P P O R T S Y S T E M S 
Developing a comprehensive framework for 21st century learning requires more than identifying specific 
skills, content knowledge, expertise and literacies. An innovative support system must be created to help 
students master the multi-dimensional abilities that will be required of them. The Partnership has identified 
five critical support systems to ensure student mastery of 21st century skills: 
• 21st Century Standards 
• Assessments of 21st Century Skills 
• 21st Century Curriculum and Instruction 
• 21st Century Professional Development 
• 21st Century Learning Environments 
For more information, visit the Partnership’s website at www.P21.org. 
Member 
Organizations 
• American Association of 
School Librarians 
• Adobe Systems 
Incorporated 
• Apple Inc. 
• Blackboard 
• Cable in the Classroom 
• Cengage Learning 
• Cisco Systems 
• Crayola 
• Dell 
• Education Networks of 
America 
• ETS 
• EF Education 
• GlobalScholar 
• Houghton Mifflin 
Harcourt 
• Hewlett Packard 
• Intel® Corporation 
• JA Worldwide 
• KnowledgeWorks 
Foundation 
• Learning Point 
Associates 
• LEGO Group 
• McGraw-Hill 
• Measured Progress 
• MHz Networks 
• Microsoft Corporation 
• National Academy 
Foundation 
• National Education 
Association 
• netTrekker 
• Oracle Education 
Foundation 
• Pearson 
• PMI Educational 
Foundation 
• Verizon 
• Walt Disney Company

1. p21_framework_2-pager

  • 1.
    Learning and InnovationSkills – 4Cs Core Subjects – 3Rs and 21st Century Themes Critical thinking • Communication Collaboration • Creativity 21st Century Student Outcomes 21st Century Satundde nStu Opputocrotm Seys satnedm Suspport Systems Framework for 21st Century Learning The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has developed a vision for student success in the new global economy. One Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001 202-312-6429 www.P21.org 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y S T U D E N T O U T C O M E S To help practitioners integrate skills into the teaching of core academic subjects, the Partnership has developed a unified, collective vision for learning known as the Framework for 21st Century Learning. This Framework describes the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life; it is a blend of content knowledge, specific skills, expertise and literacies. Every 21st century skills implementation requires the development of core academic subject knowledge and understanding among all students. Those who can think critically and communicate effectively must build on a base of core academic subject knowledge. Within the context of core knowledge instruction, students must also learn the essential skills for success in today’s world, such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration. When a school or district builds on this foundation, combining the entire Framework with the necessary support systems—standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction, professional development and learning environments—students are more engaged in the learning process and Publication date: 03/11 graduate better prepared to thrive in today’s global economy.
  • 2.
    One Massachusetts AvenueNW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001 202-312-6429 www.P21.org Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes Mastery of core subjects and 21st century themes is essential to student success. Core subjects include English, reading or language arts, world languages, arts, mathematics, economics, science, geography, history, government and civics. In addition, schools must promote an understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects: • Global Awareness • Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy • Civic Literacy • Health Literacy • Environmental Literacy Learning and Innovation Skills Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in today’s world and those who are not. They include: • Creativity and Innovation • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving • Communication and Collaboration Information, Media and Technology Skills Today, we live in a technology and media-driven environment, marked by access to an abundance of information, rapid changes in technology tools and the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale. Effective citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills, such as: • Information Literacy • Media Literacy • ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy Life and Career Skills Today’s life and work environments require far more than thinking skills and content knowledge. The ability to navigate the complex life and work environments in the globally competitive information age requires students to pay rigorous attention to developing adequate life and career skills, such as: • Flexibility and Adaptability • Initiative and Self-Direction • Social and Cross-Cultural Skills • Productivity and Accountability • Leadership and Responsibility 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y S U P P O R T S Y S T E M S Developing a comprehensive framework for 21st century learning requires more than identifying specific skills, content knowledge, expertise and literacies. An innovative support system must be created to help students master the multi-dimensional abilities that will be required of them. The Partnership has identified five critical support systems to ensure student mastery of 21st century skills: • 21st Century Standards • Assessments of 21st Century Skills • 21st Century Curriculum and Instruction • 21st Century Professional Development • 21st Century Learning Environments For more information, visit the Partnership’s website at www.P21.org. Member Organizations • American Association of School Librarians • Adobe Systems Incorporated • Apple Inc. • Blackboard • Cable in the Classroom • Cengage Learning • Cisco Systems • Crayola • Dell • Education Networks of America • ETS • EF Education • GlobalScholar • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • Hewlett Packard • Intel® Corporation • JA Worldwide • KnowledgeWorks Foundation • Learning Point Associates • LEGO Group • McGraw-Hill • Measured Progress • MHz Networks • Microsoft Corporation • National Academy Foundation • National Education Association • netTrekker • Oracle Education Foundation • Pearson • PMI Educational Foundation • Verizon • Walt Disney Company