March 2005 International Education Newsletter

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State Network Leaders Newsletter


States International Education Newsletter		March 2005

In this issue

	After the Tsunami: Youth Rebuilding Lives States Introducing International Education (IE) Legislation Washington State Offers IE Scholarship Piecing the Puzzle Together: Global Literacy for Wisconsin Citizens IE News and Announcements

States Introducing International Education (IE) Legislation

State legislators across the country have been focusing on international education. Legislation supporting such initiatives exists in some states already. For example, the Connecticut legislature passed a bill in 2004 urging the development of K-12 international education programs and standards. In 2002, a concurrent resolution was passed by the legislature of Kentucky in support of international travel programs and the availability of "curriculum materials and information...[to] increase the awareness of other cultures, languages, economies, and systems of government." Idaho passed legislation establishing the Office of Civics, Service, Character and International Education in the Department of Education.

These recent examples are only the beginning, with 2005 promising increased momentum in legislatures across the country, beginning this month when the New Jersey legislature will pass a resolution underscoring the importance of international education. After the December 3, 2004 state conference in Massachusetts, Representative Kay Khan introduced legislation appointing an international advisory committee to "explore international opportunities for learning, exchange programs and the availability of curriculum materials for students, teachers, administrators and educational policy makers." In New Mexico, Senator Gay Kernan recently introduced a bill to gain funds supporting "a multi-state collaborative to advance international education and initiate activities within the state that focus on increasing cultural awareness and promoting mutual understanding."

Other states are just getting started. A January 21 front page article The Wilson Daily Times in North Carolina described Senator A.B. Swindell's intention to introduce a bill supporting IE this session, with support from other members of the Senate education committees. The Governor's Council on International Education in Vermont has made recommendations to the state legislature as has an international education council in Wisconsin.

To learn more visit internationaled.org.

Washington State Offers IE Scholarship

The Washington State Coalition for International Education presented a $1,500 international education scholarship to the state's teacher of the year, Tamara Steen. Awarded at the 12th Annual OSPI January Conference by the Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson, the scholarship is intended to help Tamara create meaningful global connections for herself and her students. The scholarship was funded by the State Innovations grant from the Asia Society and Longview Foundation and is another idea to consider as part of your initiative. For more information on this and other initiatives, visit the informative International Education Washington website.

Piecing the Puzzle Together: Global Literacy for Wisconsin Citizens

Wisconsin held their first ever state summit, Piecing the Puzzle Together: Global Literacy for Wisconsin Citizens, on January 27. Distinguished speakers included Governor Doyle, Superintendent Burmaster and Ambassador Thomas Loftus. Roundtable sessions focused on Wisconsin's strengths and challenges, developing recommendations and building consesus on priorities. Michael Levine of the Asia Society delivered a keynote address and was heard across the state when he was a special guest on WPR's "Here on Earth with Jean Feraca" to talk about international studies in schools and the summit. You can still listen to this program in the WPR archives. The conference agenda and Michael Levine's keynote address can be found by clicking here.

IE News and Announcements

Articles focused on international education have been appearing in publications around the country. Both NPR and the San Jose Mercury News have featured stories on the rise of Chinese classes. International ed.org has links to these and other stories, such as how educators across the country are teaching about the tsunami. Be sure to send updates on your initiative for InternationalEd.org to hsingmaster@asiasociety.org. We welcome everything from media postings to conference agendas to updates for your state profile.

Check the new Network website for a copy of recent remarks made by Betsy Devlin-Foltz at the recent ISSA Conference in Denver on Best Practices in International Education. Don't forget to log on to this site to network with other state leaders and access resources in international education.

After the Tsunami: Youth Rebuilding Lives

The Asia Society in partnership with Global Nomads Group and Quarters From Kids, will hold the first ever live, interactive forum between youth in the United States and Sri Lanka to discuss life after the tsunami. American students need to gain a better understanding of the consequences of the December 2004 tsunami, which claimed over 200,000 lives, and to be linked to tangible opportunities to assist in needed reconstruction. Students from the New York metropolitan area will speak via interactive videoconferencing with students in Colombo, Sri Lanka about their firsthand experiences during and after the tsunami. This program will be simultaneously available to schools across the country through videocasting and a webcast. To register for the webcast click here

Please visit askasia.org for additional program details.





	Quick Links... Network Website InternationalEd.org State Initiatives International Education Washington Wisconsin International Summit Information IE Publications For latest IE news stories

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     web: http://www.internationaled.org

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