The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has released a national research and development agenda aimed at supporting the transformation of the American high school from time-based to competency-based models, to better prepare students for civil society and the modern economy.

WCW Senior Research Scientist Georgia Hall, Ph.D., Director of the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST), served for two years on the expert workgroup for the R&D agenda, representing the out-of-school time community.

The R&D agenda is designed to address the urgent challenges high schools face today. Since the pandemic, chronic absenteeism has soared, student disengagement has accelerated, and educator burnout has reached crisis levels. Meanwhile, employers seek skills not reflected in traditional diplomas, four-year college enrollment is dropping, and economic security remains elusive for most Americans.

The R&D agenda is also designed to chart a path to the future. It calls for building knowledge about public policies that lead to improved student outcomes. It calls for research on the development of the digital (AI), physical, and social infrastructures required to deepen academic knowledge and skill development. And it outlines specific, actionable priorities to accelerate high school transformation. Download the R&D agenda.