Paul Banksley, the 22nd-Century Skills guru, was on the line. “Terrific news,” he announced. “We’ve got a new initiative launching, and I wanted you to be one of the first to know.”

I could feel the big-idea energy. “I’m all ears,” I said.

“You know I’ve always been committed to doing what works. Well, we’re launching a new Consortium on Evidence-Based 22nd-Century Skills. We know 22nd-Century Skills work; this just gives us the evidence that shows it.”

“Sure, everything is better when it’s evidence-based!” I agreed.

“Yep, we’re flipping that old anti-evidence paradigm,” he said. “Too many people in schooling have an anti-data mindset. You know how we all used to have those signs that said, ‘In this house we believe in science’? Well, turns out that some people didn’t have those signs! Now, it’s time for everyone to be pro-science and on Team Data—not Team Anti-Data.”

I nodded.

He continued, “It’s time to merge 22nd-Century Skills with lots of evaluations, metrics, and PowerPoints. This is about using 21st-Century data to show how 22nd-Century Skills can work for 23rd-Century citizens.”

“Whoa!” I said. “I assume the research types like this?”

“Well, at first, some who aren’t part of the 22nd-Century Skills community yammered about research designs and validity and other jibber-jabber,” he allowed. “But I reminded them we had kids to save and money to spend and that they could get with the program or get a ride to the airport.”

“I love how you mesh evidence and urgency,” I said.

“Some researchers knew what we were looking for from the get-go,” he said. “The good folks at Data4Justice, for instance, totally get 22nd-Century Skills. They draw on several of them, such as leveraging a mastery of “street data” to sketch a vision of next-generation, equitable, decolonized, transformational data collection. We committed $3 million on the spot. Those are my kind of researchers!”

“Sounds like things are cooking,” I said.

“Hey, this kind of quality research is a win-win,” he explained. “Remember that great study showing that every dollar spent on 22nd-Century Skills saves ten dollars later? Talk about ROI! One Wall Street guy read about that last year, rang me out of the blue, and gave $11 million—he said he loved the idea that he was buying $100 million in free impact.”

“That’s some good math!” I enthused.

“What can I say?” he said. “We believe in evidence, and evidence believes in us,” he reminded me, flashing his trademark confidence. “After all, we’re Team Data!”

“Can you offer an example of how your data collection will work?” I asked.

“Think of it like this,” he said. “You know how one skill in our 22nd-Century Skills matrix is using digital media to promote ‘fat-positive’ poetry analysis?”

“Sure,” I said.

“Well, we want to know how that’s working. Are students feeling more positive about being fat? Does their poetry analysis reflect more fat-positive thoughts? The researchers will study that. If we don’t see the results we’d like to see, we’ll change gears.”

He paused. “Another way to get at that same skill, for instance, is by embracing a ‘full body intersection’ approach to slam poetry. Researchers might assess how often students are engaging in ‘counterhegemonic struggle through fat positivity via considerations of hyper(in)visibility.’ Or they might ask if they’re more comfortable eating snacks when composing verse. It’s about identifying what works. That’s the path to that sweet, sweet ROI.”

I was struggling to put my finger on something. “I guess I’m wondering how this strict focus on evidence translates into academic success.”

He laughed good-naturedly. “Rick, when I sold vacuums, we learned to always focus on our North Star. Back then, it was moving vacuum units. Now, it’s 22nd-Century Skills. I mean, would you rather have a school full of body positive, future-oriented innovators or a bunch of body-shamed nerds who know the Pythagorean Theorem?”

“I get it,” I said. “But what happens if all this data leads you to conclude, ‘Maybe 22nd-Century Skills aren’t working’? What happens then?”

“Look, Rick, we’re not quitters.” I could hear the blue steel in his voice. “If our researchers can’t get us the data we need, we’ll find researchers who will.”

That’s Banksley for you. Always thinking two steps—and two centuries—ahead.

Frederick Hess is an executive editor of Education Next and the author of the blog “Old School with Rick Hess.”