Welcome to the International Affairs Office (IAO) home page. IAO, located in the Office of the Secretary (OS), leads and coordinates the Department's international activities and serves as the Department's liaison office to international organizations, ministries of education abroad, and the diplomatic community in the United States.

IAO Mission:

In today's global economy, an engaged and relevant U.S. domestic education system cannot thrive in isolation but must interact with and learn from the education systems of other nations. International exchanges of information, resources, and people are critical to developing mutual understanding, and they are key investments in the future political, economic, and social relationships between Americans and people around the world.

The International Affairs Office coordinates and guides ED's international cooperation and activities. Priority areas include (a) improving education systems through international benchmarking and comparative research; (b) conducting education diplomacy; and (c) promoting foreign language and cultural studies.

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