Promote Durable Skills Across the P-20 Continuum

The Commission’s listening sessions and meetings with education leaders, employers, and community partners made abundantly clear that they consider durable skills to be central to learners’ future success in work and life. This feedback aligns with recent national surveys of employers who agree that durable skills are essential for employees at all levels to thrive in a workplace augmented by AI.1 These durable skills are commonly understood to include collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, leadership, problem solving, and working in groups across differences. Other components, as outlined by America Succeeds, include character, fortitude, a growth mindset, metacognition, and mindfulness.2

Students also need to reach proficiency in core academic content areas, becoming literate, numerate, and competent in the scientific method by the time they graduate from high school. Additionally, core competencies in civic, digital, and financial skills are critical to learners’ future success and confidence in themselves and the world around them. The rapid growth and spread of AI have made durable skills even more valuable in allowing learners and employees to adapt to labor market changes. Finally, the key to unlocking a first apprenticeship, internship, or job is often the social capital and professional network within a learner’s industry of interest.