Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program
The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government's flagship exchange activity, was proposed to the U.S. Congress in 1945 by then freshman Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. Senator Fulbright viewed the proposed program as a much needed vehicle for mutual understanding that would provide the opportunity for future leaders to observe and better comprehend the institutions, cultures and societies of other countries and peoples. The Fulbright legislation was approved by the Congress and signed into law by President Truman in 1946. The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program provides opportunities for teachers and other school or college faculty to participate in direct exchanges of positions with colleagues from other countries for six weeks, a semester, or an academic year. The program also offers three to six week work-shadowing and observational study opportunities for U.S. and international administrators. In some cases, one-way assignments may be available.
Each year over 100 educators from all over the United States live and work abroad in elementary and secondary schools in over thirty countries. As the coordinating agency for the Northeast, NESDEC conducts a three-day orientation retreat for the Fulbright teachers working in the Northeast; we also interview New England teachers participating in the program and provide them with an orientation.
Information about the program can be found at www.fulbrightexchanges.org.