(a)
The institution selected under Section 44782 shall select international studies resource centers from applicant colleges, universities, and nonprofit agencies to establish and operate the centers throughout the state. The programs to be operated by the centers shall be subject to the review and approval of the administering institution, pursuant to consultation with the advisory committee established under Section 44784.
(b)
The program operated by any resource center shall further, as the primary objective of the project, the enhancement of the quality of elementary and secondary school instruction in courses that satisfy the high school graduation requirements set forth in Section 51225.3, with particular emphasis on world history and cultures, economics, and foreign languages. The resource center program shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
(1)
The preparation by world affairs specialists of instructional materials on international issues and other cultures appropriate for use in elementary and secondary school classrooms.
(2)
In-service training of classroom teachers.
(3)
The training of a group of highly skilled and knowledgeable teachers to serve as leading international studies resource practitioners in curriculum and staff development projects.
(4)
The development of a support system for teachers learning new international skills, including content training, curriculum demonstrations, instructional resource services, information sharing, and individual assistance and counseling.
(5)
Collaboration between elementary and secondary teachers and international teaching and research personnel in colleges, universities, and nonschool international organizations.
(6)
Collaboration in colleges and universities between international specialists in history, economics, international relations, foreign languages, and related fields, and specialists in teaching methods and strategies.
(7)
Cooperation between schools, regional or county educational agencies, and colleges and universities.
(8)
The development of an evaluation process to assess the following:
(A)
The attitudes of project participants toward the effectiveness of the local resource center.
(B)
The international skills and knowledge of students in participating schools.
(9)
Systematically improving the international skills of project participants, the teachers to be trained by participants, and, ultimately, students attending elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools.
(10)
Comprehensive planning for curricular revision or enhancement and instructional change.
(11)
Integrating the international studies project with any staff development programs provided by staff development and resource centers established in the same geographic area pursuant to Chapter 3.1 (commencing with Section 44670).
(12)
Providing financial and personnel support for the international studies project that supplements but does not supplant existing support.