R&D Agenda to Transform High School
Modernizing the American high school means redefining what success looks like and how we help young people get there.
Reimagining High School for the Modern Era
American high school education is at a crossroads. While the world accelerates toward an AI-driven economy that demands creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability, our high schools remain trapped in an outdated architecture designed for a different era.
Through extensive collaboration with students, families, educators, employers, and community based leaders nationally, Carnegie has identified interconnected R&D priorities, to help catalyze and sustain high school transformation. These priorities are undergirded by two important cross cutting priorities: the implementation of robust, well-aligned public policy and the development of coherent educational infrastructure – the physical, digital, and social structures necessary to deliver impact at scale.
The Carnegie Foundation commits to accelerating learning and discovery across these priorities through partnerships with practitioners and policy makers nationwide. We will synthesize emergent findings, collaborate with research partners, and generate evidence to drive transformation at national scale.
R&D Priorities for the Nation
Policy and infrastructure (and generative AI) are enabling, cross-cutting forces.
Shared Vision and Decision Making
Create shared understanding and decision making across community for transforming high school.
Real-world learning experiences
Develop rigorous, engaging, and experiential learning experiences that are fueled by technology innovation (generative AI), ground in science, and move beyond seat time.
Conditions for Educator Excellence
Reimagine the role of teaching and empower educators with professional learning to accelerate students’ learning and skill development.
Integrated Pathways
Create learning ecosystems, tools and structures spanning high school, postsecondary, and career, to significantly advance student opportunity beyond graduation.
Actionable Forms of Assessment
Build valid and reliable Al powered ‘testless’ assessments methodologies, where competency can be demonstrated in a wide variety of contexts, in and out of school.
Access to Meaningful Credentials
Increase access to credible, accelerative credentials through high school (e.g., dual enrollment, early college, advanced placement courses, career and technical education certification, apprenticeships).
Relevant Insights for Families
Create tools and methods for educators to engage with families to advance student learning and success in and beyond high school.
Culture of Trust
Establish supportive learning culture and positive relationships for student and educator connection, purpose, and agency.
Inputs from the field
High school transformation must reflect the needs and experiences of the people it serves. Our R&D Agenda is informed by extensive engagement with students, families, educators, and workforce leaders.
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We’re launching the full R&D Agenda this summer! Sign up for our newsletter below to be the first to receive it and to join the growing community committed to transforming the future of high school nationwide.