Overall, the increasing availability of valid assessments for 21 st century skills is
leading to calls for all states to participate in “international benchmarking”: comparing
their educational processes and outcomes to the best models around the world (National
Governors Association, Council of Chief State School Officers, and Achieve, Inc., 2008).
Widely used international assessments centered on curricular areas include the Trends in
International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) for grades four, eight, and twelve, as well
as the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement PIRLS
assessment of fourth grade reading levels (Silva, 2008). “Benchmarking for Success:
Ensuring US Students Receive a World-class Education” calls on states to implement five
types of benchmarking (page 6):