The PSBA Institute (PSBA-IN), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, will conduct the fourth international study group in February 2027. The project team will develop recommendations centered on changes school districts could implement to significantly enhance district academics, operations, facilities and culture.

The 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 February 28 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, such as federal and state ministries of education and 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.