Business leaders are intensifying their call for schools to retool their curriculum. A new report makes a strong economic case for why students must learn key 21st-century skills. And Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has highlighted an education plan that addresses the need to meet rising global challenges.

As of press time, notably absent in these discussions has been any acknowledgment by Republican presidential candidate John McCain of the need for schools to teach 21st-century skills, or the role technology can play in doing so.

McCain's presidential platform does address educational technology, but only in the context of providing more choices for students and their parents. For instance, he says he would "reform" the Enhancing Education Through Technology program--the largest single source of federal funding for school technology--by reallocating $500 million in existing federal funds to build new virtual schools and support the development of online course offerings for students.

"These courses may be for regular coursework, for enhancement, or for dual enrollment into college," the McCain campaign's web site says.

In addition, McCain has proposed creating two new ed-tech programs. The first would allocate $250 million through a competitive grant program to help states expand online learning opportunities. States could use these funds to build virtual math and science academies to help expand the availability of AP math, science, and computer-science courses, for example.

The second would offer $250 million in "Digital Passport Scholarships" to help students pay for online tutors or enroll in virtual schools. Low-income students would be eligible to receive up to $4,000 to enroll in an online course, SAT or ACT prep course, credit recovery, or tutoring services offered by a virtual provider. The federal Education Department would award the funds to a national scholarship administrator, who would manage student applications and evaluate providers.

While these proposals could increase students' access to high-quality educational content, including courses in the so-called STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines, they don't address what both business and education leaders say is a fundamental need for schools to overhaul their core curriculum in the face of new global challenges.

For the United States to remain globally competitive, U.S. schools must teach 21st-century skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation within the context of the core curriculum, says a growing chorus of experts.

At the annual Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco this summer, Intel Chairman Craig Barrett warned that if the U.S. doesn't invest more money in research or redesign its schools and classrooms, its education system will fail. (See "Intel chair calls for ed reform, STEM innovation")