2025 International Education Study Group
2025 International Education Study Group
Overview
The PSBA Trust Institute (PSBA-IN), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, will conduct the second international study group in March 2025. The project team will develop recommendations centered on changes school districts could implement to significantly enhance district academics, operations, facilities and culture.
The 10-member study group cohort will focus on the educational system in North Rhine Westphalia, Western Germany. Participants will also join several Teams calls with education, business and government leaders from Germany to hear about their systems, academic approaches and policies.
The group will spend the week of March 9 touring schools and conducting meetings with education and civic leaders in Duesseldorf and other communities in Western Germany. The meetings and visits will provide an overview of the German education system, including how it works, how the system achieves results, how it is funded and more to gather ideas for adaptation and implementation in Pennsylvania school districts. Meetings will include discussions with German government officials, education agencies (federal and state ministries of education, city education departments), as well as other stakeholders such as employer associations and unions who are involved in the German vocational education/ apprenticeship system.
The cohort will tour German schools at the primary and secondary levels to understand the structure of the education system and to meet with school administrators, educators and students.
Additionally, the group will plan to tour companies/manufacturers to see on-the-job training and to gain an understanding of employers’ perspectives on the German education system. Each day will consist of 3-4 meetings with institutions, which may include working sessions over lunch or dinner. Cultural programming will also be included during our time in Germany.
The 10-member study group cohort will focus on the educational system in North Rhine Westphalia, Western Germany. Participants will also join several Teams calls with education, business and government leaders from Germany to hear about their systems, academic approaches and policies.
The group will spend the week of March 9 touring schools and conducting meetings with education and civic leaders in Duesseldorf and other communities in Western Germany. The meetings and visits will provide an overview of the German education system, including how it works, how the system achieves results, how it is funded and more to gather ideas for adaptation and implementation in Pennsylvania school districts. Meetings will include discussions with German government officials, education agencies (federal and state ministries of education, city education departments), as well as other stakeholders such as employer associations and unions who are involved in the German vocational education/ apprenticeship system.
The cohort will tour German schools at the primary and secondary levels to understand the structure of the education system and to meet with school administrators, educators and students.
Additionally, the group will plan to tour companies/manufacturers to see on-the-job training and to gain an understanding of employers’ perspectives on the German education system. Each day will consist of 3-4 meetings with institutions, which may include working sessions over lunch or dinner. Cultural programming will also be included during our time in Germany.
Commitment
Participation is open to current Pennsylvania school directors or employees of a PSBA-member district/CTC/IU. Applicants must commit to:
- Attending two pre-trip meetings lasting approximately one hour.
- Participate in the trip (March 9-15, 2025).
- Actively contribute to the work of a subgroup focused on documenting their learning from the sessions and contributing to articles to be published by PSBA-IN and PSBA.
- Serve as a presenter/panelist at the 2025 PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference (October 2025).
- Make a financial commitment of $500 towards the cost of travel.
- Participants are responsible for personal expenses while in Germany and transportation/parking costs to and from their choice of airport, along with airfare costs in excess of $800.
PSBA-IN has secured outside funding to cover all direct program costs, including:
- A stipend toward roundtrip airfare from the airport of the participants choosing to Frankfurt ($800).
- Six nights hotel accommodations in Germany.
- Meals, transportation and meeting costs in Germany.
Participation
The 2025 Study Group project seeks a diverse team with varied experience and roles within the Pennsylvania education system.
A selection committee will review all applications and develop a cohort of participants from across the commonwealth. All applicants must be current school directors or employees of a PSBA-member district/CTC/IU.
To apply, please send a current bio/CV, letter of interest, and brief statement outlining your involvement in local education and desired learning outcomes from participating in the study group. Materials may be submitted via email to: StudyGroup@psba.org no later than Sunday, October 27, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified in mid-November 2024.
A selection committee will review all applications and develop a cohort of participants from across the commonwealth. All applicants must be current school directors or employees of a PSBA-member district/CTC/IU.
To apply, please send a current bio/CV, letter of interest, and brief statement outlining your involvement in local education and desired learning outcomes from participating in the study group. Materials may be submitted via email to: StudyGroup@psba.org no later than Sunday, October 27, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified in mid-November 2024.
Disclaimer: This project is funded entirely by a grant to PSBA from the PSBA Trust. No PSBA funds or PSBA member dues have been used for expenses related to this International Study Group trip. The PSBA Trust is not funded by PSBA or via PSBA membership dues.