[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E524-E525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SKILLS FOR TODAY WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RYAN A. COSTELLO

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2018

  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and my 
House 21st Century Skills Caucus co-chair, Congressman Dave Loebsack, I 
rise today to acknowledge Skills for Today Week.
  Every American student should graduate high school with the knowledge 
and skills required for workplace, academic, and life success. Thriving 
today--finding and holding a well-paying job, succeeding in higher 
education, and becoming part of a healthy community--requires a deep 
grasp of rich content knowledge and the ability to use that knowledge 
to address challenges and meet needs. Extraordinary schools and 
community programs in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and many other states across 
the country recognize this vitally important vision and are working 
hard to equip their learners with the critical thinking, collaboration, 
communication, and creativity skills (the ``4Cs'') they will need after 
graduation.
  As the bipartisan co-chairs of the House 21st Century Skills Caucus, 
we love to highlight the innovative schools and community 
organizations--including high quality early learning providers and 
engaging community programs--that are blazing new trails to prime 
students for success. That is why we are pleased to acknowledge Skills 
for Today Week, which is scheduled from April 23-27. Skills for Today 
Week was created by the Partnership for 21st Century Learning to 
showcase how leading schools and beyond school programs are 
transforming teaching and learning, using a focus on the 4Cs to prepare 
students for economic, academic, and life success.
  Policymakers and practitioners alike can learn from the diverse group 
of education innovators featured during Skills for Today Week events. 
We believe federal education policies should enable and invest in 
similar initiatives. As a result, we continue to strongly support the 
Every Student Succeeds Act,

[[Page E525]]

which defers to state and local decision-making and sensibly invests in 
educational innovations through bipartisan programs like the Student 
Support and Academic Enrichment block grant, the 21st Century Community 
Learning Centers program, and the Preschool Development Grants program. 
The stars of Skills for Today Week show that this flexible and 
practical approach can make a major difference for America's students 
as they work to become the next generation of business, community, and 
national leaders.

                          ____________________