State economies are competing with countries around the world for trade, foreign direct investment, and job creation. States are also major investors in human capital. They hold major responsibility for assuring that children receive an education that will serve them, and society, later on. Forty-five states to date have adopted the Common Core State Standards, whose mission is to provide clear benchmarks to develop student knowledge and skills for success in college and career in the global economy.

Asia Society spearheads the States Network for International Education. The states work on capacity-building measures—everything from advocacy to legislation to political leadership on education-related issues. Asia Society and its partners shares the state-led innovations with the goal of other states adopting promising practices and supportive legislation that funds teacher preparation and school programs.

Asia Society also partners with several statewide afterschool networks across the country to embed global learning into statewide policies, professional development and quality systems for out-of-school programs.