ALIGNING WITH P-12 21ST CENTURY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS INITIATIVES For several years now, education leaders in many states, districts, and schools have pursued 21st century knowledge and skills initiatives. The most effective of these are focused on integrating 21st century knowledge and skills into each of the essential P-12 education support systems: • Standards • Assessments • Curriculum and Instruction • Professional Development • Learning Environments The matrix below describes each element of an ideal P-12 21st century skills initiative, aligned with the related conditions and desired outcomes of educator preparation programs. The chart provides a high-level view of how the two systems—P-12 school and district systems on the one hand, and educator preparation programs on the other—can align to produce better 21st century outcomes for both educators and their prospective students.