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States Institute - 2005
Washington State was invited to send a team to the States Institute in Washington, DC December 7-9, 2005. The Washington State team this year included:
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Anand Yang, Director of the University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies
Michele Anciaux Aoki, Project Director for the 2003 and 2005 State Innovations Grants to the Coalition
The State Team submitted a trip report summarizing highlights of the States Institute, which you are welcome to download and print:
- 2005 States Institute Report (PDF file opens in a new window)
The Washington State Team identified these key areas of focus for 2006:
- Expand Chinese Language Capacity in Washington State, including Chinese language offerings at all levels pre-K – college and professional development for teachers from the U.S. and China.
- Integrate Global Perspectives throughout the curriculum and in state assessments, especially the new Social Studies and Arts Classroom-Based Assessments.
- Promote Rigor in High Schools by expanding access to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate.
- Expand partnerships in Early Learning, K-12, and Higher Ed.
States Institute - 2004
Washington State was once again invited to send a team to the States Institute in Washington, DC November 15-17, 2004. The Washington State team this year included:
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Caleb Perkins
, Social Studies and
International Education Supervisor, Office of Superintendent of Public
Instructions
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Denny Hurtado, Indian Education Program Supervisor, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
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David Woodward, President of Associates in Cultural Exchange, serving as Project Director for the 2004 State Innovations Grant to the Coalition
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Michele Anciaux Aoki, (former) Director of Educational Programs - Global Classroom, World Affairs Council Seattle
The State Team submitted a trip report summarizing highlights of the States Institute, which you are welcome to download and print:
- 2004 States Institute Report (PDF file opens in a new window)
Conversations within the team revealed a common commitment to helping students gain an understanding of their world through access to culturally relevant, sensitive, and inclusive materials, language and exchange programs, and well-trained teachers who possess both cultural and intercultural competency. In sum, our common goal is to prepare all students for an interconnected world: each of us stressing both “all” and “interconnected” when making this joint declaration.
To help meet this ambitious, important goal, we agreed to explore several steps including:
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Collaborating in preparation for testimony to the House State Education Committee, which met on December 1st to discuss a bill related to the role of cultural competency in helping all students achieve.
> [See Report to House Education Committee 12/1/2004.] -
Coordinating a joint meeting of the Washington State International Education Coalition and the Multi-Ethnic Think Tank to discuss common goals and strategies.
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Promoting models of integration so that multicultural and international perspectives are included throughout the K-12 curriculum.
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Pursuing federal dollars to support language and exchange programs and to expand student access to these opportunities.
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Examining ways in which the state can provide guidelines on how districts may offer course credit for students who have developed language proficiency outside of school.
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Exploring the possibility of adopting voluntary standards for world language instruction in Washington State based on the National Standards for Foreign Language.
> [For more information, see Resources > World Languages.] -
Inviting policymakers to visit successful international schools already in existence in Washington State.
States Institute - 2003
The National Coalition on Asia and International Studies in the Schools invited Washington State to send a team to the States Institute in Washington, DC November 17-19, 2003.
The Washington State Team for 2003 consisted of:
- Carolyn Tolas, Vice President of the State Board of Education
- Christopher Thompson, Executive Director of the Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission
- Kristin Hayden, Founder and Executive Director of One World Now!
- Lili Hein, Program Coordinator of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle
- Michele Anciaux Aoki, Project Director for the State Innovations Grant (for P-20 International Education Summit)
The State Team submitted a trip report summarizing highlights of the States Institute, which you are welcome to download and print:
- 2003 States Institute Report (PDF file opens in a new window)
The Washington State Team identified the following steps as necessary to close the international education gap in our state:
- Engage our State Leadership – Superintendent Terry Bergeson and Governor Gary Locke.
- Leverage our K-20 technology infrastructure by promoting internationally oriented technology-based programs, such as iEarn.
- Leverage current Teacher of the Year awards by creating international learning opportunities (such as all-expense-paid international exchanges) for award winners, who will then have personal experiences with international education to share across the state.
States Institute - 2002
Washington State was one of 21 states to attend the first-time States Institute on International Education in the Schools, held in Washington, DC November 20-22, 2002. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Governor Gary Locke sent a State Team consisting of:
- Dr. Cynthia Rekdal, Executive Director of the Washington State Association for Multicultural Education (WSAME)
- Toshi Moriguchi, CFO of Uwajimaya in Seattle
- William Linser, teacher at Robinswood High School in Bellevue School District
- Dr. Michele Anciaux Aoki, representing the John Stanford International School in Seattle
The State Team was invited by OSPI and the Governor to spearhead an effort to assess the state's current status with regard to International Education and build a statewide coalition to engage the public and high-level leaders in taking action in this area. The expectation was that the new Social Studies Coordinator hired at OSPI would play a major role in this task force.
The 2002 State Team included a current teacher (Mr. Linser), a retired school administrator, college lecturer, and head of a statewide non-profit organization (Dr. Rekdal), a business executive active in education affairs through the Alliance for Education in Seattle (Mr. Moriguchi), and an international communications consultant and former Parent Involvement Director for the Washington State PTA (Dr. Aoki).
The State Team submitted a trip report summarizing highlights of the States Institute for Governor Gary Locke and Superintendent Terry Bergeson, which you are welcome to download and print:
- 2002 States Institute Report (PDF file opens in a new window)
The 2002 Washington State Team brought home several key messages for our state:
Integrate International Ed
International Education is not an “add on,” but, rather, must be integrated into all aspects of Social Studies and other school subjects, starting in elementary school. In addition, efforts to include International Education must connect with current efforts to raise standards and hold schools and students accountable.
World Languages are Crucial
Developing citizens who can communicate in languages other than English is crucial to our country’s economic and environmental future, as well as homeland security. To be successful, language study needs to begin earlier and be sustained longer.
Think P-20
International Education must span pre-school through Higher Ed. This will take a coordinated effort and a willingness to tear down traditional barriers between K-12 and Higher Ed.
Resources Exist
Most states, including Washington, already have many International Education resources, but they need to be better advertised and shared. In addition, there are grants available from a number of foundations and organizations, as well as government agencies, ready to promote this agenda.