Introduction to the World of Learning
21st century learning should be fundamentally different than it is today. Despite years of investment and incremental reform, our education system lacks the personalization and relevancy to prepare every learner for the careers of tomorrow.

The results of this failing system are all too clear: glaring achievement gaps, record high school dropout rates, declining international rankings, and extensive demand for postsecondary remediation. Our country is in dire need of comprehensive education reform that embraces a new way of thinking — a shift from a world of schooling to a world of learning. In an era increasingly motivated by innovation and international competition, our success depends on our ability to embrace this type of educational transformation.

As a leader in applying future trends to educational transformation, KnowledgeWorks seeks to inform thought leaders about the policy conditions critical to a world of learning. While the emergence of new technologies, school models, and anytime, anywhere learning, have begun to defi ne learning environments of the future, federal policymakers must establish the policy conditions to help these innovations thrive.

Personalized Learning
As technology continues to transform our daily lives, we have the opportunity to create learning experiences that are relevant, customized, and amplified. Students and families demand such experiences and will choose educational options that best meet their needs. As a result, districts and schools will have to adapt services to be effective in a vast marketplace for personalized learning. This includes investments in online, digital materials, mobile and social media technologies. Educators will also demand customized professional development to lead an explosion of new teaching roles. These changes will enhance the quality of learning for all students and provide richer, clearer career paths for educators.

In order to scale these emerging reforms, we must remove traditional barriers like measuring student progress through seat time which have little relevancy to competency based education. Districts should also explore ways to leverage learning experiences beyond their borders, blurring boundaries between the classroom, community, and the world.

Efficient Delivery Systems
In an era of declining resources, leaders need to leverage scarce resources in a way that furthers student achievement. Districts must reevaluate governance structures and delivery systems, eliminate duplication, and identify potential cost savings. Efficiency is a critical component to the world of learning.

Districts must also deepen their connections with community. These partnerships should move beyond traditional school-community relationships and focus on integrating data systems, increasing transparency, and sharing accountability to serve all students. Alignment of school and community resources can leverage additional funding toward shared community outcomes and provide more opportunities for personalized, relevant learning experiences.

Conclusion
The future promises significant opportunities for students if we challenge the way we think about our education system. A strong vision for comprehensive educational transformation can guide policymakers and educators through complex choices to preserve America’s economic, political, and national security. The following policy recommendations provide a framework for transforming America's education system to support the world of learning:

Transforming to a World of Learning: A Federal Policy Agenda