Michele was inspired to write the following entry by her participation in the May 15th meeting of Washington Learns and my May 19th entry titled "Why Don't They Like Us Anymore?"

Washington Learns, created and led by Governor Chris Gregoire, is conducting an 18–month top-to-bottom review of Washington's entire education system (Early Learning, K-12, Higher Education), including its structure and funding. Their recommendations are due to the Legislature in November, 2006. Their meetings are open to the public and the next meeting is scheduled for May 23, 2006. – Bill

The timing could hardly be better, given the new book, "America Against The World: How We Are Different and Why We Are Disliked" [Times Books, 2006] detailing the findings of the Pew Global Attitudes Project, and, in particular, that worldwide dislike for America has grown in recent years.

The focus of the May 15 meeting of the Steering Committee of Washington Learns was "International Comparisons, Challenges, and Opportunities." The meeting was chaired by Steering Committee member Eric Liu who is also a member of the State Board of Education. (Note: Under the restructuring of the State Board, Liu was a direct appointee by Governor Gregoire.) A former Clinton speech-writer, Liu is also the author of Guiding Lights: The People Who Lead Us Toward Our Purpose in Life and The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker, a New York Times Notable Book featured in the PBS documentary Matters of Race, and. (I'm looking forward to reading both his books.)

I have been following the Washington Learns process since the beginning and attended many of their meetings. I haven't been shy about reminding them that "world-class education" includes the word "world." Our students need to be learning much more about the world around them, including how to communicate in something other than English.

At the end of the meeting last Monday when I had the opportunity for public comment, Superintendent Terry Bergeson, who has known me for many years, smiled and remarked, "This must be the happiest day of your life." Quite possibly. I have waited a long time for International Education to make it on the Education Reform agenda in this state.

Sarah Reyneveld, a research assistant with Washington Learns, made the first presentation on "World Class Education in the New World Economy: International Comparisons and Programs." She highlighted US standing on international comparisons, such as the well-known TIMSS study and PISA (Program for International Student Assessment), then explored some steps Washington State and other states are taking in key areas: world languages, international curriculum, and international exchanges.

Next on the agenda was a guest speaker from New York: Dr. Michael Levine, Executive Director for Education at the Asia Society and the National Coalition for International Education. He spoke on "A World Transformed: Preparing American Students for the Interconnected World of the 21st Century."

Of particular interest is how other countries are investing in International Education. For example, most European countries start a foreign language in the elementary grades. China teaches English from 3rd grade on, and 25% of Australians learn an Asian language. Only two states in the U.S. -- Wyoming and New Jersey -- have mandated language instruction in schools. Whereas only 0.5% of U.S. students studied abroad in 2000, the comparable figures were 3% for France and China, 16% for Ireland, and 30% for Singapore.

Here's what Dr. Levine recommended as next steps for Washington State:

1. Raise awareness of the urgency of responding to globalization.

2. Invest in teachers' capacity to implement new curriculum goals through more rigorous training.

3. Develop a K-16 pipeline in critical languages.

4. Make high schools relevant to the global age.

Superintendent Bergeson seemed to really like the idea of building international connections in Math and Science and asked Dr. Levine if there was an institute set up somewhere to which we could send Washington teachers for such training. His response: "Not really."

This actually sounds like a wonderful thing for Washington State to create. And based on all the international student TAs that I see teaching Math and Science classes at the UW, not to mention all of the international employees at major firms like Microsoft, Boeing, and Amgen, I suspect all the "human resources" you'd need to pull this off are probably already here within our state!

If this idea intrigues you, let me know.

There's more to report on Washington Learns, but it will have to wait until the next blog.

Michele Anciaux Aoki
michele@anciauxinternational.com