Giving Compass' Take: 

• This Getting Smart post explores the gaps in college and career readiness within our K-12 education system, and argues that project-based learning offers the best solutions.

• In what ways can education funders help shift mindsets in this area? Which core competencies should districts focus their efforts on?

• Here's an example of one organization taking an innovative approach to career prep.

Education loves catchphrases. And for the last several years, College and Career Ready, or Future Ready, have topped the list. These terms are intended to capture the changing world and economy. Essentially, we need to get our students ready for whatever they may face educationally, professionally and even technologically. It sounds good. Intentions are good.

But it’s flawed as well. First, wasn’t this supposed to always be the mission of school? For many of us, this is not new. But since the world is undergoing unprecedented change, it seems how we become ready should change dramatically. And that leads to the second concern. Have we really changed much? We have new standards, new assessments, new technologies and more. But far too often, school is still much like it has always been. And that is disconnected, top-down, testing and grade focused. So, how could we redefine readiness?

If the world and the economy are truly going through transformational change (and they are), doesn’t that imply that our systems need to go through transformational change. Can we get our students ‘ready’ if we have only  slightly adjusted and altered their learning? It’s time for complete and transformational change. Learning, as well as school in general, needs to look and feel very differently in order to being approaching contemporary and actual readiness for all.

Read the full article about redefining college and career readiness by Michael Niehoff at Getting Smart.