• What is a world class education?
• What is a 21st century education? 
• Do the standards define the vision or do we want something more?

It's important for Minnesotan's to know: 

In the absence of a Comprehensive Plan for Education in Minnesota we default to the standards, which don't include technology, health, world languages, critical thinking, and creative arts (art, music, theater, dance, performance, band, orchestra, choir). 

Are we really willing to settle for the standards?

Visioning Resources

Minnesota

Minnesota's Promise - The only comprehensive vision for the future of public education in Minnesota put forth to date.

• January 2008 - Minnesota’s Promise Final Report - As partners in Minnesota’s Promise, we have agreed to work toward the ten strategies of Minnesota’s Promise both within our organizations and together across the state as a whole.
  
  Parents United for Public Schools participated in the development of the Minnesota's Promise vision, and is a Minnesota's Promise partner.
  
  
• 2007 Legislative Review: Minnesota’s Promise Still Unfulfilled - Steps the Minnesota legislature took towards implementing the strategies of Minnesota's Promise.
  
  
• September 2006 - Minnesota's Promise - A call to action from 27 past and present superintendents to transform education in Minnesota for the global information age (Brochure).

National

Reports from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills

• September 2008 - 21st Century Skills, Education & Competitiveness: A Resource and Policy Guide - The nation needs to do a much better job teaching and measuring advanced, 21st century skills that are the indispensible currency for participation, achievement and competitiveness in the global economy, Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
  
  
• August 2007 – Updated Framework For 21st Century Learning - What are the skills, knowledge and expertise today’s students must master to compete globally and become successful 21st Century citizens? What are the critical support systems schools need to produce 21st century teaching and learning outcomes? Partnership for 21st Century Skills (Press Release).
  
  
• October 2006 - Are They Really Ready to Work? Employers’ Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge And Applied Skills of New Entrants to the 21st Century Workforce, produced in collaboration with The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, and Society for Human Resource Management (Full Report).
  
  
• March 2006 - Results that Matter: 21st Century Skills and High School Reform - 21st century skills integrated with core academic subjects — should be the “design specs” for creating high schools that are truly effective for students and the nation.
  
  
• June 2004 - The Road to 21st Century Learning: A Policymakers’ Guide to 21st Century Skills.
  
  
• June 2003 - Learning for the 21st Century: A Report and MILE Guide for 21st Century Skills.

Ready by 21 — Ready for college, work and life. A project of the Forum for Youth Investment - Helping communities and the nation make sure all young people are Ready by 21.

• September 2006 - Ready for Work Action Brief
  
  
• April 2006 - Ready for College Action Brief

November 2007 (Updated) - Standards for the 21st-Century Learner - A vision for teaching and learning, American Association of School Librarians.