International Programs
International Classroom Partnership Program
The International Classroom Partnership (ICP) program is part of the NCEE EconomicsInternational Program. This program pairs classrooms from the U.S. with classrooms in one of the NCEE’s partner countries for ongoing, cooperative learning experiences. The program was initially piloted by several schools in Colorado, and has been continued and expanded in Illinois by ICEE.
Since 2004, four schools in Illinois have been partnered with four schools in Romania (one teacher in each school). This partnership began with a study tour to Romania by the U.S. teachers in Fall 2004, where they visited their partner schools, observed classroom lessons, observed a teacher training workshop, visited businesses, and spent time with their partners planning lessons or projects on which their classes would work cooperatively during the school year. Projects were implemented December through April, and the Romanian partner teachers visited the U.S. for 14 days in mid-April. Their visit included time in their partner schools as well as tours of Illinois businesses, financial institutions, and cultural events.
Over the past two years, the original partnerships have continued, with some transitions in schools and teachers involved on the U.S. side. The International Classroom Partnership program is supported through funding by the National Council on Economic Education, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education Cooperative Education Exchange Program. A handbook on forming classroom partnerships us available from ICEE and will be made available online through NCEE in the coming year.
