State & District Network for International Education
We currently support the success of states and districts through investments that attract, retain and harness resources to extend global competence into classrooms; that expand opportunity to build coalitions for internationalization by gathering policymakers and practitioners to plan solutions that accelerate the growth of ideas and bring people from diverse social and economic backgrounds together. Are you interested in becoming a member? Contact us
Since 2003, the Longview Foundation has made grants to support state coalitions of leaders in education, government, business, and non–profit organizations working to promote teaching about world regions and global issues in their states.
The goals of this initiative are to increase teaching of international knowledge and skills in P–12 classrooms by stimulating state policy actions and program initiatives to enable expanded investments in international education and develop professional capacity to teach about the world.
In addition to funding, Longview has partnered with the Digital Promise to create the State and District Network on International Education in the Schools that brings together state leaders to share strategies and promising policy and program innovations to build the global knowledge, skills, and dispositions of young people. The network has contributed to significant recent growth in the field.
- Attention to international education is increasing at the policy level. Over a dozen states have passed legislation in support of global knowledge and skills and many others have introduced such legislation.
- Promising curriculum and program developments are supporting the growing interest in building young people’s global competence. Global knowledge and skills are now included in state standards or graduation requirements in more than 11 states. Most states in the network are offering professional development for teachers. Other states are adding global distinctions to diplomas and seals of bi–literacy. There has been an explosion in Mandarin language instruction, a growing interest in offering Arabic and other less commonly taught languages, and an expanded attention to and investment in world language instruction in the early grades.
- Resources for international education are increasing — digital, networks, and partnerships. Organizations and individuals have made significant investments of time and internal resources to these initiatives. A number of states are funding full– and part–time staff positions in international education. Government, foundation, and private sector resources are also providing support for international education activities.
Building global competence into all P–12 schools throughout a state is a complex process that requires the engagement of leaders from education, government, business, and non–profit, community and parent organizations. The specific shape of any international education initiative will depend on the state or district education structure and resources. Use our international planning rubric and data from Mapping the Nation and work with colleagues to determine your next area of focus.
International Education Planning Rubric: State Strategies to Prepare Globally Competent Students
Learn more about the work we have supported and about current funding strategies in the states network on internationalization category.