Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education

From left to right: Lois Adams-Rodgers of the Council of Chief State School Officers; Susan Zelman, Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction; Donna Nesbitt, International Education Coordinator at the Ohio Department of Education; and Michele Armstrong of the Goldman Sachs Foundation

Ohio received recognition from the Goldman Sachs Foundation for our efforts to prepare our students as global thinkers in the 21st century arena – an international realm where communication and business technology requires our students to not only have knowledge of America’s diverse culture, but also the cultures and languages of our global partners across all continents.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Tave Zelman accepted the Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education for Ohio in New York City on March 10.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from The Goldman Sachs Foundation and the Asia Society,” Zelman said. “The State Board of Education, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), the Governor’s Office, the legislature, and our business and education partners have worked together to strengthen the international component of Ohio’s education system. In an increasingly competitive and global economy, these experiences will better prepare our students for jobs and success in the 21st century.”

In 2003, the Goldman Sachs Foundation and the Asia Society launched these Prizes for Excellence in International Education to recognize outstanding achievement and raise awareness of the importance of international knowledge and skills for American students. Ohio received the 2007 award for the “state” category for the outstanding initiatives of the State Board, ODE, the Governor’s Office and the Ohio General Assembly. Other categories awarded this year included elementary and middle school, high school, and media and technology.
Ohio‘s focus on creating a world-class education system received special attention. In keeping with a tradition of innovation, Ohio is the first state in the country to engage in an international benchmarking study last year. Achieve, Inc., compared Ohio’s education system to the best systems across the globe. As a result, we are implementing several education policies to strengthen Ohio’s place in the global market.
The International Education Advisory Committee, a collaboration of business, education and community groups, is developing a vision and strategic plan for international education.
The Ohio Department of Education has worked with several partners, including The Ohio State University’s Chinese Flagship Program to bring an international component to elementary and high school education. Through our joint efforts, 47 elementary and high schools have implemented Chinese language programs.

Ohio also has secured a federal grant that provides training opportunities and curriculum development for Mandarin Chinese language programs. In addition, Ohio participates in a teacher exchange program that allows students to learn Spanish or Chinese from a native speaker. The Foreign Language Advisory Council, created by the legislature in 2006, has developed a plan to increase the number of foreign language programs and teachers.

In the early years of the 21st century, Ohio’s educators recognize the need for students to understand global content and contexts. The State Board of Education and ODE have worked in partnership in our state, nation, and across the globe to develop new and exciting programs to engage students and teachers in international education. Ohio’s spirit of innovation, imagination and invention will remain alive in the future of our children, the global citizens of this new millennium.