Title: Promising practices in global education
Description: From the Preface: Recent decades reveal substantial progress in internationalizing American education. The various case studies in regional and local development outlined in this handbook testify to this growth. State departments of education have shown increased interest in improving foreign language and international studies, with Arkansas, California, Florida, New York, and Texas taking the lead. From Seattle to St. Louis, major private foundations now actively support regional and local efforts. Although thousands of individual teachers, parents, and administrators recognize the need, few operate with any institutional support. The special virtue of this handbook is that it addresses organizational dimensions of closing the gap between national needs for more internationally able and informed American s and current educational circumstances. As a nation, we still have a long way to go.

On the face of it, there would seem to be little argument that our nation should have an educational system that produces at least a minimal cadre of experts about other peoples and cultures, as well as professionals in business and government who can transact negotiations across national borders. We should have scientists and technicians who can extend and share human knowledge across the globe. And, finally, we must have citizens knowledgeable enough to support tough leadership decisions and policies in a complicated and dangerous world. Against this background, the time has come to organize coalitions to support school-based international education programs. The case studies provided here reveal the successful experiences of state agencies, universities, world affairs citizen groups, foundations, and regional collaboratives.

The handbook also highlights key steps in the organizing process, from design to evaluation, with an added emphasis on specific materials that have proven effective. Whereas each program must and will evolve in a unique context, it is hoped that the promising practices contained in this handbook will provide insights, inspiration, and strategies for its users.
Subjects: International education, Case studies, Multicultural education
Places: United States