The Pearson Foundation/CCSSO International Conference on Education

Hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the Pearson Foundation, the Pearson Foundation/CCSSO International Conference on Education brings an international delegation of education leaders together each year to explore, firsthand, innovative approaches to a single, shared educational issue.

Delegates visit local educators to learn from the host country’s own challenges and successes; meet in small working teams to present and share best practices from their own countries; learn from each other ways in which they can improve their own local efforts; and – as a result of this dialogue – make recommendations that may be shared with their global peers about methods, practice, and policy.

Singapore 2008

In 2008, the inaugural International Conference on Education welcomed educators from thirteen countries and six continents to Singapore with the aim of learning firsthand from the country’s success in science and mathematics.

Educators from Brazil, Canada, England, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States visited with local education officials and toured several innovative sites including the Crescent City Girls School and the National Institute of Education – the country’s only teacher training facility.

The results of this investigation were published in the document Report and Recommendations for Education Policy Leaders from the Pearson Foundation/CCSSO International Conference on Science and Mathematics Education.

Helsinki 2009

In September 2009, the conference was held in Helsinki, Finland, with the goal of learning from Finland’s own success in preparing its K-12 and university educators to meet the demands of an increasingly interconnected and technologically advanced workforce.

Officials from locales including Finland, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe joined a delegation of Chief State School Officers and other education leaders from the United States. Participants explored the educational and cultural drivers that have led to Finland’s educational success while taking part in site visits to local schools and universities.

The conclusions of their resulting dialogue were published in the document Report and Recommendations for Education Policy Leaders from the Pearson Foundation/CCSSO International Conference on Teacher Quality and Technological Innovation.

London 2010

In June 2010, the third International Conference on Education was held in London, England, with the goal of exploring this country’s innovations in adapting and applying digital technologies in support of teaching and student learning. CCSSO and Pearson delegates were joined by local education leaders, international experts, and representatives from locations including Brazil, Hong Kong, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Zambia.

The results of this most recent investigation will be published during the first half of 2011.

Information about the forthcoming 2011 International Conference on Education will also be released early in the new year.