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The Office of Overseas Schools (OS) coordinates and administers the Department of State's Overseas Schools Assistance Program. During school year 2007-2008, OS will provide assistance to 194 schools, all of which are private, independent, and non-profit. Of the approximately 107,000 students enrolled in these schools, 30 percent are U.S. citizens, 30 percent are host-country nationals, and 40 percent are third-country nationals.

Nearly half of the professional staff as well as the majority of the directors of these schools are U.S. citizens. The primary language of instruction is English, and most of the schools are accredited through U.S. educational accrediting associations. The schools provide a diverse international environment that gives students a chance to learn first hand about other countries, peoples, and cultures. In addition, these schools offer an opportunity to showcase the best in American educational practices, to demonstrate a dedication to the democratic values of fairness, equity and justice; as well as to promote mutual understanding. The role of the Office of Overseas Schools in supporting these schools and their educational programs underscoresthe Department's commitment to providing appropriate education for U.S. Government dependents overseas.

In order to fulfill this role, the Office of Overseas Schools pursues the following objectives:

 ? To promote, support, and maintain current U.S. educational practices and procedures in overseas schools;

 ? To foster competent management that establishes, supports, and maintains the stated mission of the schools;

 ? To provide professional development opportunities to ensure highly trained, qualified staff in each overseas school;

 ? To assist educators in overseas schools in the development and improvement of educational materials;

 ? To encourage continuous evaluation of educational programs;

 ? To help schools develop and maintain the financial resources to assure quality educational opportunities for school-age dependents of U.S. Government employeesoverseas; and

 ? To assess the quality of educational opportunities for dependents at U.S. missions overseas in which there are no Department-assisted overseas schools, and to offer supplementary programs as well as to assist parents in providing adequate educational opportunities for their children where such opportunities are deficient.

A secondary goal of the Office of Overseas Schools is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries by demonstrating American educational ideas, principles, and methods. The following objectives are designed to achieve this goal:

 ? To promote understanding of U.S. educational philosophy and practice among host- and third-country teachers;

 ? To support partnerships between U.S. school systems and overseas schools so that instructional materials, faculty, and educational programs can be exchanged to the mutual benefit of both partners; and

 ? To demonstrate exemplary American educational methods and teaching practices to the host-country community.

The Office of Overseas Schools has a professional staff that includes a Director and six Regional Education Officers (REOs). The responsibilities of the REOs require a broad range of training, experience and contacts in the field of education in the United States and abroad. The REOs are recognized as educational leaders who function at the highest levels of professionalism in carrying out the objectives of the office. They work closely with Department-assisted overseas schools and maintain close liaison with U.S. colleges and universities, school systems, professional organizations, and relevant government offices. The REOs also work closely with U.S. Government employees assigned overseas and their families as well as Department of State organizations including the Regional Bureaus, the Office of Allowances, the Family Liaison Office, and the Employee Consultation Service. The activities of the Office of Overseas Schools are discussed in the following pages.