Across the country, there is a refreshing and growing movement to improve America's high schools. But education leaders and policymakers need to rethink the vision for high school reform.

High schools must be designed, organized and managed with a relentless focus on the results that matter in the 21st century ? in addition to the traditional metrics of attendance, graduation and college matriculation rates ? or they risk missing the mark. Traditional metrics are important, but they are no longer sufficient indicators of student preparedness.

Instead, leaders should focus on 21st century skills, which include: core content, 21st century content, learning and thinking skills, ICT literacy, life skills, and 21st century assessments.

We all want high schools to do a better job of preparing students to meet the challenges they will face in postsecondary education, careers and communities. We all know that students need to learn at higher levels. And they need different skill sets for an economy that increasingly runs on information, knowledge and innovation.

The results that matter should drive high school reform. High schools can achieve meaningful change only if they prepare students to succeed.

Read the Partnership for 21st Century Skills' report on high school reform here.