The 4 R's

Back in "the day," schools focused on reading, writing and arithmetic. A high school of the 21st century will focus on three new Rs: relationships, relevance and rigor. Without these, schools won't ever get to the 4th R: results.

• Relationships = In order to be successful, students need to feel safe, respected and cared about. They need to connect with others.
• Relevance = In order to be engaged and willing to learn, students need to understand the connection between their daily studies and the rest of their lives.
• Rigor = In order to be prepared for postsecondary, students need to be challenged academically.
• Results = If schools provide a rigorous, relevant curriculum and connections with adults, educational outcomes should follow.