On Friday September 14th, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) released of the first-ever U.S. Government Strategy on International Basic Education. The Strategy demonstrates the U.S. Government's commitment to international education and presents an opportunity to advance global diplomatic and development leadership on pressing international education challenges, as called for in the READ Act. The Strategy will enhance coordination of U.S. international education assistance across 10 departments and agencies and will ensure that taxpayer resources will be more efficiently and effectively managed going forward.
The Basic Education Coalition is especially grateful to Congresswoman Nita Lowey, USAID Administrator Mark Green, and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Julie Cram for their leadership and commitment to international basic education. From passage of the READ Act to the launch of the Strategy, dedicated officials across the U.S. Government have shown that education is a vital and strategic priority for U.S. foreign assistance.
BEC looks forward to working with USAID and the other relevant departments and agencies going forward in order to collectively achieve the objectives of improving learning outcomes and expanding access to quality basic education for all, particularly marginalized and vulnerable populations.