The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is taking proactive measures to prepare the state’s students for the future. With a $3.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the NCDPI will pilot the Skills for the Future (SFF) project aimed at integrating what they refer to as ‘durable skills’ into student assessments. These skills include adaptability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, empathy, a learner’s mindset, and personal responsibility-all of which are deemed crucial for students’ success beyond high school.