PSBA EXECUTIVE SPONSORS:

The PSBA Trust Institute (PSBA-IN), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, conducts an annual international study group. Participants develop recommendations centered on changes school districts could implement to significantly enhance district academics, operations, facilities and culture. 
 
This study group focuses on the educational system in North Rhine Westphalia, Western Germany. Participants also join several Teams calls with education, business and government leaders from Germany to hear about their systems, academic approaches and policies. 
 
The group spends a week touring schools and conducting meetings with education and civic leaders in Duesseldorf and other communities in Western Germany. The meetings and visits 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 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. 
 
Participants 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 tours companies/manufacturers to see on-the-job training and to gain an understanding of employers’ perspectives on the German education system. Each day consists of 3-4 meetings with institutions, which may include working sessions over lunch or dinner. Cultural programming is also included.