Building Global Education Leadership in States and Local Communities
State Task Forces on Global Education
The U.S. Center and Fulbright Center propose to identify and convene state-based task forces on K-12 education in five selected states in addition to Iowa. These task force groups will include state policy leaders, key legislators, school administrators, university faculty, teachers, school board members, parents and representatives from the departments of education, business community and nonprofit international organizations based in the state. The U.S. Center Education Director will lead these task forces in cooperation with a major university in each state to address the issues mentioned above and provide leadership for these essential activities.
Based on the status and progress of global education in each state, the Institute will:
- Form a Task Force on Global Education,
- Determine the status of K-12 global education and curriculum in the state,
- Review the resources available including curriculum models, successful programs throughout the country, embassies, non-profit organizations, etc. and
- Create an action plan for their state to be shared with their respective state legislatures, Governors, school boards, school districts, state boards and departments of education, business leaders and the media.
The action plan will also address critical issues facing schools in incorporating global education in the classroom, including:
- How can international concepts be more effectively and efficiently integrated into the K-12 curriculum while continuing to raise educational standards in math and science?
- What states and specific school systems have been successful in internationalizing their curricula? What can be learned to leverage this success to accelerate the pace of change in individual states?
- What barriers exist to prevent teachers and students from participating in international exchange opportunities?
- What state and community-based international resources and organizations are available for supplementation and utilization in our classrooms?
Statewide Educators Symposium on Global Education
The U.S. Center and Fulbright Center will work with each state task force to plan and conduct a statewide symposium or regional symposiums on global education open to teachers, administrators and school board members throughout the state.
Participants will attend in teams from at least twenty school districts. Each task force, under the leadership of the U.S. Center and the Fulbright Center, will collaborate on the organization of the Institute and partner with local and state institutions of higher education to provide college credit options for participants.
The symposium will be unique in that it will emphasize the effectiveness and long-term viability of cultural organizations in both the state and local communities and involve them in a showcase workshop event. Educators will also have the opportunity to:
- Learn about various local and state international organizations and the resources they have available for teachers and educators to expand global education in the classroom
- Be engaged with a broad spectrum of school district professionals, business representatives, national experts, local representatives of cultural organizations, university personnel, foreign-born citizens and residents and those with language expertise
- Focus on elevating the value of learning about other cultures with follow-up experiences including international travel for credit. Fulbright Commissions worldwide will provide a support network for this program.
- Access national experts on international education at the K-12 level
- Access the U.S. Center web site and study available resources for curriculum, partner schools, international travel, humanitarian projects and electronic pen pals
As a result, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the future world and the richness that diversity brings, gain a deeper understanding of the need to integrate an international perspective into their schools and learn about readily available resources and strategies to achieve that goal. A model schedule of symposium activities is available from the U.S. Center. Each symposium will be customized to meet the needs of the participants.
International Travel for Teachers
To enhance international leadership among teachers, the Institute will also provide stipends to teachers for international travel through the Fulbright Center, based on a plan to initiate an international perspective in their classrooms upon their return from the travel experience. The teachers will build leadership skills, participate in intercultural dialogue programs, and increase their knowledge of the world around them, allowing them to enhance their classroom teaching. The teachers will be integrated into the existing networks of Fulbright Commissions around the world for support and program logistics during their time abroad.
Iowa Pilot Program and Additional States
In 2009, with funding from the Iowa legislature, the state of Iowa supported the first Global Education Institute, which is designed as a pilot for five additional states from 2011-2013. Five states are currently under consideration. During the next 3-4 months, the U.S. Center will identify the final five states.
The initial potential states under consideration include: Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Washington.
Global Education Summit
Upon completion of work with the five selected states and Iowa, the Institute will convene a national summit on global education for all the state task force groups and launch a national network of state-based global educators that involves the full spectrum of stakeholders, including teachers, administrators, business people, nonprofit international organizations and university and college personnel.
The summit will also invite other participants from states and groups such as the educators involved with the Asia Society project, those involved with establishing international schools and those involved in International Baccalaureate programs.
Comprehensive Web Site on Global Education - A National Resource and Database
In 2007, the U.S. Center established a comprehensive web site linking over three hundred opportunities for Americans of all ages to be engaged in international activities. It includes an entire section on K-12 education, including the following elements:
- Model curriculum focused on international education and international components that reach across all subject matter
- Directory of speakers on international education and global K-12 education
- Calendar of local, state, regional, national and international conferences on international education
- Current study abroad, sister school partnerships and student travel programs
- Innovative programs on global education throughout the country
- Blog to encourage discussion among educators on current issues in global education, to share new ideas and discuss what is working and not working for teachers in the classroom
- Community based cultural programs of interest to local communities for school enrichment, for replication in other communities
The web site is currently active, but when funded, the U.S. Center will expand the web site and collaborate on additional components with the Fulbright Center, with a special emphasis on student and teacher travel and study abroad programs.
Product and Sustainability Following Funding
Institute activity in each state includes the creation of a report on the status of international education in that state and an action plan for the future. The action plans will involve initiatives for local educators, nonprofit organizations, universities, departments of education and legislators, and will include proposed funding sources for the initiatives, such as reallocating or increasing existing operating and program budgets. For some initiatives, further grant funding may be sought through both governmental and private sources. The U.S. Center and Fulbright staff will maintain ongoing communication with the state task forces, monitor the outcome and impact of their action plans and consult with them on available resources.