International Education in Rhode Island Schools
PRINCIPAL Questionnaire

Dear Principal:

Following is a brief survey that requests information pertaining to the extent to which international knowledge and skills are taught in your school.  The Rhode Island International Education Survey is a statewide effort to assess the status of international education* in our schools.  This questionnaire seeks to assess activities currently underway around the state at the school level.  Separate questionnaires address these issues at the departmental level and survey teacher background and attitudes relating to international education and the interests and needs of teachers in building the international capacities of their students. 

While the dawn of the 21^st Century brings clear recognition of the importance of international understanding and involvement, too often educators lack the tools and resources necessary to integrate international content into the daily challenge of promoting core skills.  Although it is easy to recognize that international content can be used to promote basic literacy and numeracy skills, as well as increasingly important capacities relating to use of technology, educators often have neither the time nor the opportunity to assess and implement materials and curricula that promote such learning. 

The results of this survey will create a foundation for establishing an international education strategic plan for Rhode Island, effectively harnessing resources, and providing professional development opportunities for teachers.  Your participation and the participation of your department heads and teachers will help to ensure the success of this effort and your responses will be an important part of developing a state strategy for promoting the international knowledge and capacities of our citizens.

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this survey!

Sincerely,

Kate Greene
Director of Programs
Global Rhode Island

Please return your completed survey to Global Rhode Island:

Attn: International Education Survey
Global Rhode Island
11 Southmayd Street
Newport, RI 02840
Fax:  (401) 849-5316     Email:  kgreene@globalri.org

This survey is being conducted with the support of a State Innovations in International Education grant from the National Campaign for International Education.  For more information on the National Campaign, please visit www.internationaled.org.

* Please Note: For the purposes of this effort, the term “international education” includes any school-related activity that promotes knowledge of the peoples, cultures, or languages of other countries, international relations, or issues that transcend national boundaries;  the development of skills relating to interaction with people from other countries, or investigation of topics that transcend national boundaries; or the promotion of dispositions that facilitate interacting with or learning about the world.

2. Does your school sponsor or administer any co-curricular or extra-curricular activities that integrate international content or promote the development of international skills?                                                                                 Yes/No
If so, please list the program title(s), countries involved, # of students and teachers involved each year*:

D. international outreach

Does your school engage in programs with other schools, institutions, or individuals, involving actual exchange or travel of individuals or exchange of information via the internet or another method of communication?                         Yes/No

If yes, list the program title(s), countries involved, # of students involved, and # of teachers involved each year*:

* Please feel free to attach extra pages, materials, or course descriptions.

E. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Does your school sponsor professional development opportunities for your teachers that promote international knowledge or skills?  Yes/No

   If yes, list the providers of such training, and indicate the basic topics of focus*: 

2. What assistance or resources would you like to be provided to help your school improve its abilities to develop international knowledge and capacities of students and teachers? *

3. Do you know of any programs or resources you would recommend to other educators in Rhode Island? *

* Please feel free to attach extra pages, materials, or course descriptions.