Presenters and panelists at the New England ...]]> NEBHE will bring together hundreds of New England higher education, government and business leaders on Monday, Nov. 7, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to discuss the role of higher education in preparing the highly skilled workers that will drive innovation in the region.

Presenters and panelists at the New England Works conference will explore:

• What projections say about the gap between supply and demand in the New England labor market.
• The varied roles of different kinds of higher education institutions in preparing learners for a fast-changing 21st-century economy.
• Types of degrees the region's colleges and universities producing.
• How employers regard higher education in addressing labor force skills gaps.

Featured speakers include:

• U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
• Gov. Dannel P. Malloy (D-Conn.)
• Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor
• Carol Geary Schneider, President, Association of American Colleges and Universities
• Marlene B. Seltzer, President and CEO, Jobs for the Future
• Nicholas C. Donohue, President and CEO, Nellie Mae Education Foundation
• Eric Rosengren, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Early registration is now available.

The Rennie Center released A New Era of Education Reform: Preparing All Students for Success in College, Career and Life which calls attention to the need for 21st century skills in today’s classrooms.

The report, funded by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, summarizes a survey of Massachusetts district and school leaders coupled with their opinions on ...]]>

The Rennie Center released A New Era of Education Reform: Preparing All Students for Success in College, Career and Life which calls attention to the need for 21^st century skills in today’s classrooms.

The report, funded by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, summarizes a survey of Massachusetts district and school leaders coupled with their opinions on the importance of 21^st century skills. These 21^st century skills include communication, technology literacy, collaboration and creativity.

More than three-quarters of the leaders agree that the integration of 21^st century skills into public school learning curricula is necessary, including in areas where students are lacking basic skills. The report suggests educators regularly incorporate 21st century skills into the teaching of core content, rather than as specialized add-ons.

The report also indicates that, despite widespread support for integration of 21^st century skills, school leaders feel a lack of state support for the initiative.

To further enrich understanding of how 21^st century skills can be integrated into the classroom, the Rennie Center also visited leaders and educators at 12 Massachusetts schools where 21^st century skills are considered a priority.

“In order to secure the long-term prosperity of the region, we must increase the overall number of learners who possess the skills and knowledge necessary for full participation in postsecondary education, work and life,” said Nellie Mae Education Foundation President and CEO Nicholas C. Donohue. “We hope that this report helps to move the conversation along so that educators can prepare all students with what they need to know and begin to measure those skills in ways that allow us to accurately gauge progress.”

More information and a copy of the report can be found on the Nellie Mae Education Foundation’s website