GEBG Global Education Standards

The intent of the GEBG Global Education Standards is to provide a set of guidelines that characterize responsible global education programs and prudent professional practice for member schools. A detailed version of the standards are available to member schools, or through the Annotated Guide to Global Education.

Organizations may use the standards to self-assess and improve their programs, design continuing education and professional development opportunities, and communicate with stakeholders as to the principles by which they operate. Schools may wish to apply for GEBG Global Education Standards Endorsement, or they may want to engage in a GEBG Evaluation.

The Standards are written and maintained by a committee of the GEBG Board of Trustees. All Standards should be viewed through the lens of how the school supports an inclusive learning environment and provides equity of access to global learning for all students.

GEBG Global Education Standards

Section 1:

VISION AND PURPOSE

Section 2:

GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP

Section 3:

TEACHING AND LEARNING (Curricular & Co-curricular)

Section 4:

STAKEHOLDER AND COMMUNICATION RELATIONSHIPS

Section 5:

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Section 6:

RISK MANAGEMENT

GEBG Endorsement or Evaluation

The GEBG Global Education Standards Endorsement is an independent process that seeks to recognize schools with significant global education programs. The GEBG Endorsement is granted to schools found to be in compliance with all applicable standards. The final Endorsement Report also provides suggestions and recommendations.

The GEBG Global Education Evaluation is a consultation process by which a school’s global program is evaluated, including recommendations and commendations, without going through the official Endorsement process. It is an evaluation by a global education consultant to help a school to assess their global program, identify areas of strength, and recognize areas of needed growth.

Who can apply and how?

Any independent school that is a member in good standing of the GEBG and has had a global program (global curriculum and travel abroad) for at least three years may apply. This process is voluntary. An authorized school administrator should email us at info@gebg.org, to initiate the GEBG Endorsement process. The GEBG Endorsement Committee will assign a GEBG Endorsement Reviewer with extensive independent school accreditation experience to begin the GEBG Endorsement process. If a school is not a member of GEBG, please review criteria for membership here.

How does a school document compliance with the Standards?

A school may demonstrate its compliance with the GEBG Standards in several ways:

  • Documents provided by the school to include but not limited to:
    • Published statements from the head of school, administrators, teachers, students or parents
    • Manuals provided by the school for any programs related to global education
    • Legal statements from the school
    • Surveys of relevant stakeholders of the school
    • Information available on the school’s website
  • Interviews by the GEBG Endorsement Team Reviewer with relevant stakeholders of the school (Board, administration, staff, teachers, students, and parents)
  • Observations by the GEBG Endorsement Team Reviewer.

How do I schedule and plan for an endorsement or evaluation?

There are two general ways in which a school can go about scheduling and planning for a GEBG Endorsement:

1. Accreditation Visit and GEBG Endorsement

A school can undergo a GEBG Endorsement at the time the school is undergoing its NAIS affiliated accreditation process.

  • The school may request a GEBG Endorsement at the time an accreditation visit is requested with the school’s accrediting agency. The GEBG Endorsement Committee will assign an Endorsement Reviewer for the school.
  • After a GEBG Endorsement Reviewer has been identified, the reviewer will arrange an initial meeting, either in person or online, approximately six months in advance of the site visit to discuss the endorsement process. This meeting will involve the GEBG Endorsement Reviewer and the person responsible for global programs at the school. After this initial meeting, and based on the program’s readiness to demonstrate compliance with the Standards, the Endorsement Reviewer may either recommend that the school proceed with the Endorsement process or recommend that the school postpone the endorsement visit due to issues with the school meeting the minimum standards. The Reviewer will provide recommendations on how best to address those issues.
  • If the Endorsement Reviewer recommends that the school move forward with the Endorsement process, the school will write a GEBG Standards Report based on GEBG Standards and make it available on the GEBG Global Education Standards Portal. The Standards Report provides an extensive overview and self study of how the school complies with the GEBG Standards.
  • Upon receipt of the school’s Standards Report, the Endorsement Reviewer, the school’s accreditation representative, and the chair of the accrediting committee will coordinate appropriate visit dates.
  • At the time of the school’s accreditation visit, the GEBG Endorsement Reviewer may be part of the accreditation team, provided that the GEBG Endorsement Reviewer is scheduled two regular school days on campus to complete the endorsement process. However, that reviewer will focus on the school’s global education program. Alternately, a GEBG Endorsement Reviewer can be an additional participant, independent of the visiting accreditation committee, and not involved in the standard accreditation process. The GEBG Endorsement Reviewer will provide information to the accrediting team to the extent possible in order to help the accrediting team with the global education part of their report.
  • Within 30 days of the site visit review, the Reviewer will write a Site Visit Report and provide it to the GEBG Endorsement Committee.
  • Within 30 days, the Endorsement Committee will issue an Endorsement Finding, independent of the accreditation report.
  • In the event that the school meets the applicable GEBG Standards, a GEBG Global Education Endorsement will be granted.
  • In the event that the school does not meet the applicable GEBG Standards the school will receive a written evaluation indicating which standards are not met. The evaluation will make suggestions and recommendations for improvement to support the school in complying with the standards.
    • If the school chooses to further pursue Endorsement, it may submit a Plan for Compliance within 90 days that specifies the steps the school will take to come into compliance and a timeline for completion.
    • The Plan for Compliance will be reviewed by the Endorsement Reviewer within 30 day and a recommendation forwarded to the Endorsement Committee.
    • The Endorsement Committee will accept or reject the Plan for Compliance within 30 days.
  • If the Plan for Compliance is accepted, the school will submit to the Endorsement Committee a Compliance Report in accord with the timeline of the Plan.
  • The Endorsement Committee will review the Compliance Report and determine if the school has satisfied the terms of the Plan.
    • In the event that the school is found to be in compliance, a Global Education Endorsement will be granted.
    • In the event that the school is not found to be in compliance, the school may reapply for Endorsement when it determines that it is prepared for the Endorsement process.
  • The Endorsement Recommendation for a school is good for five (5) years from the date issued.

2. Independent GEBG Endorsement

A school may choose to undergo the GEBG Endorsement process independently of an accrediting agency visit.

  • After contacting the GEBG, the GEBG Endorsement Committee will assign a Reviewer. The length of the visit by an Endorsement Reviewer is two regular school days.
  • After a GEBG Endorsement Reviewer has been identified, the reviewer will arrange an initial meeting, either in person or online, approximately six months in advance of the site visit to discuss the endorsement process. This meeting will involve the GEBG Endorsement Reviewer and the person responsible for global programs at the school. After this initial meeting, and based on the program’s readiness to demonstrate compliance with the Standards, the Endorsement Reviewer may either recommend that the school proceed with the Endorsement process or recommend that the school postpone the endorsement visit due to issues with the school meeting the minimum standards. The Reviewer will provide recommendations on how best to address those issues.
  • If the Endorsement Reviewer recommends that the school move forward with the Endorsement process, the school will write a GEBG Standards Report based on GEBG Standards and make it available on the GEBG Global Education Standards Portal. The Standards Report provides an extensive overview and self study of how the school complies with the GEBG Standards.
  • Upon receipt of the school’s Standards Report, the Endorsement Reviewer and the school’s accreditation representative will coordinate appropriate visit dates.
  • The GEBG Endorsement Reviewer will visit the school and evaluate the school’s global education program based on the Standards Report, information gathered from interviews, and other materials provided by the school on site.
  • Based on the Site Visit evaluation, within 30 days of the site visit review, the Reviewer will write a Site Visit Report and provide it to the GEBG Endorsement Committee.
  • Within 30 days, the Endorsement Committee will issue an Endorsement Finding.
  • In the event at the school meets the applicable GEBG Standards, and a GEBG Global Education Endorsement will be granted.
  • In the event that the school does not meet the applicable GEBG Standards the school will receive a written evaluation indicating which standards that are not met. The evaluation will make suggestions and recommendations for improvement to support the school in complying with the standards.
    • If the school chooses to further pursue Endorsement, it may submit a Plan for Compliance within 90 days that specifies the steps the school will take to come into compliance and a timeline for completion.
    • The Plan for Compliance will be reviewed by the Endorsement Reviewer within 30 day and a recommendation forward to the Endorsement Committee.
    • The Endorsement Committee will accept or reject the Plan for Compliance within 30 days.
  • If the Plan for Compliance is accepted, the school will submit to the Endorsement Committee a Compliance Report in accord with the timeline of the Plan.
  • The Endorsement Committee will review the Compliance Report and determine if the school has satisfied the terms of the Plan.
    • In the event that the school is found to be in compliance, a Global Education Endorsement will be granted.
    • In the event that the school is not found to be in compliance, the school may reapply for Endorsement when it determines that it is prepared for the Endorsement process.
  • The Endorsement Recommendation for a school is good for five (5) years from the date issued.

How much does evaluation or endorsement cost?

Endorsement and Evaluation: The school requesting the GEBG Endorsement or Evaluation will pay for all usual expenses associated with the endorsement visit. This includes:

  • $2500 GEBG Endorsement/Evaluation Fee.
  • Transportation:
    • Roundtrip airfare (where the school is more than 200 miles from the GEBG Reviewer’s home,) appropriate lodging, meals ($50/day,) and local transportation costs for the initial GEBG Reviewer visit.
    • Ground travel (where a school is less than 200 miles from the GEBG Reviewer’s home,) $0.50/mile.

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Endorsement/Evaluation Interest Form

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