Best practices involving 21st Century Skills have been analyzed and debated in "Educational Technology" and in other publications; yet, the fidelity of implementation in the overwhelming majority of school systems nationwide has been fragmented at best. This article proposes strategies for assessing 21st Century Skills or H.E.A.T. (Higher-order thinking, Engaged learning, Authentic connections, Technology use) as an integral part of the daily curriculum in schools today. Turning up the H.E.A.T. is no longer a cliche, but a driving force to prepare students for the challenges of a digital society and to transition low-performing schools into high-performing schools. (Contains 2 figures.)