ASCD Author Vivien Stewart Paves the Way to a World-Class Education for All

Alexandria, VA (02/13/2012)—ASCD is pleased to announce the release of A World-Class Education: Learning from International Models of Excellence and Innovation by international education expert Vivien Stewart. Designed to spark meaningful dialogue, this book pays particular attention to current international best practices for developing and maintaining a high-quality teaching profession and to the implications of global trends for creating modern curriculum, instruction, and assessment systems for the 21st century.

Time and time again, the attention of U.S. educators and policymakers is turned toward remarkable success stories from Finland, China, Singapore, Canada, Australia, and other nations that boldly move their education systems forward in a globally competitive, innovation-based world. While stunning examples inspire, A World-Class Education enables readers to delve into the policy, practices, and priorities of highly effective education systems that support all learners and help nations foster success across the board.

First pointing to the education systems that demonstrate large-scale educational acceleration, this book helps connect the dots between today's successes and the thoughtful tactics and strategies that nations relied on to get there. Readers will also explore how the best school systems implement purposeful teacher recruitment and retention policies, get management and accountability right, and champion strategies that increase student engagement in learning. Stewart also explains how the United States can adopt effective approaches for the benefit of our own schools at the national, state, and local level.

A notable portion of A World-Class Education also zeroes in on the internationally benchmarked Common Core State Standards and the potential that they hold for supporting a world-class education. Stewart calls on U.S. states and districts to bring the standards to life in ways that will significantly raise achievement, and discusses ways to modernize curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the context of globalization.

"Students in the United States are competing in an interconnected world and we owe them a learning experience that will not only prepare them for success tomorrow, but also create real opportunities in a global economy," said ASCD Executive Director and CEO Dr. Gene R. Carter. "This book can help both educators and leaders benefit from the successes of nations that are making great gains."

About the Author
Vivien Stewart is senior education advisor and former vice president at Asia Society, where she leads a national effort to prepare American students and educators for the interconnected world of the 21st century. She has worked with schools around the country to broaden students’ educational experiences to prepare them for work and citizenship in a global age. She has also brought together education leaders from around the globe to share experiences in developing world-class education systems. Prior to Asia Society, she was director of education programs at Carnegie Corporation of New York.

To hear additional insight from the book directly from the author, tune in to her recorded ASCD Talks with an Author interview. For more information about ASCD, please visit http://www.ascd.org. To learn more about our books program or to read sample chapters from past publications, please visit http://www.ascd.org/books.

Contact Information  

• Julia Liapidova, communications specialist, 1-703-575-5607 or by e-mail. 
• Stephen Wakefield, communications director, 1-703-575-5764 or by e-mail.