FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

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DOS - 160 - Overseas Schools Advisory Council - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Overseas Schools Advisory Council	Agency Name	Department of State
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	160
Original Establishment Date	3/1/1967	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	3/24/2025	Committee URL	http://n/a
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	21
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Director, Office of Overseas Schools
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	3/24/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Yvette
Date Of Renewal Charter	3/24/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Trevino-Magallan
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	AGEN	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	202 571-7097
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	22 U.S.C. 2656	Designated Federal Officer Email*	ulfersme@state.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	7/27/1789
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Overseas Schools Advisory Council obtains information and counsel from business community partners in the United States. Twice a year they advise the Office of Overseas Schools of the Department of State concerning policy matters and necessary personnel and financial support to the overseas schools. Council members are encouraged to meet with members of the American business community and visit overseas schools. When possible, council members will meet with school board members to review the schools' needs. As a result, the number of U.S. business representatives on the overseas school boards has continues to rise. By way of this engagement, members of the council have prepared materials to assist and support schools on a variety of topics. The educational projects spearheaded by the Council are playing a significant role in the overseas schools' efforts to improve their staffs, enrich their curricula, and permit thousands of American children overseas to benefit from the newest educational materials and techniques. The Council began an initiative in FY 2011 that will be especially helpful to the Department of State to make the World Virtual School available to American overseas schools. This capability will assist the schools maintain instruction during emergencies that require school closures so that students continue their education without significant disruption. In 2015 the Council also proposed a Child Protection Project This is being done in cooperation with the Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. The Council received updates on the World Virtual School and Child Protection Projects at their recent meeting. In addition, the Council funded a Special Needs Project and committed $80,000.00 to its purposes. Special Education consultants will be made available to all regional education associations as well as individual schools. These consultants will provide guidance on how to build and staff an exemplary special needs program. In 2004 the Council began the process of placing as many of the funded projects on the Department of State's Internet and Intranet. Currently 22 of the Council's projects are available to schools, and other interested parties, electronically. The Council is currently sponsoring a project to address the social and emotional needs of students. Consultants are being identified and made available to our schools around the world.
How is membership balanced?*	The committee seeks members of the business, foundation and education communities to serve as Representative members of their organizations on the council. These individuals are of diverse backgrounds, professional qualifications and work experience. They have a strong interest in helping Department-assisted overseas schools become centers of excellence in education and in helping to make service abroad more attractive to U. S. citizens with school aged children, both in the business community and the U. S. Government. In addition, the Council seeks to have a mix of Representative members from both the operating and human resources units of business organizations. Currently the Council has 16 representative members, plus one in the process of being approved. Of this number, five are women. These factors are not explicit balance factors but are highly desirable in achieving a diversity of viewpoints on the Council.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The committee meets twice a calendar year. The council's winter meeting is held at the beginning of the year and consists of the full membership in attendance. The second meeting is held in the summer where the committee meets to discuss pending initiatives. To accommodate the demanding needs of the membership, the council offers a hybrid approach. The winter meeting focused on Child Protection, Special Needs, and Social/Emotional Needs, as well as fundraising and recruitment. The June meeting was an informal working session to further efforts to increase fundraising and membership. The council will hold the next meeting on February 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Overseas Schools Advisory Council is the longest, continually operating council within the Department. It is a public/private partnership between the Department and U. S. business and corporate Representatives. The Council's members have a unique insight into the challenges their employees encounter when accepting an overseas assignment. These individuals understand the issues confronted by their employees with school aged children when relocating to another country. The two meetings the Council holds each year provide the Department with insights that would not be possible without this body. We know of no other agency, group or committee, within the Department, that has such a vested interest in ensuring that the children attending an American overseas school receive the finest education possible.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All Council meetings are open.
Recommendation Remarks	Subcommittees: The Council does not have any subcommittees at this time. Previously, the Council has used an ad-hoc committee on fundraising. The Fundraising Committee has considered a variety of ways to improve the Council's fundraising efforts that support its Educational Assistance Program. Oral reports on all current projects are provided during regular Council meetings.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	The outccome does not apply to this council.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	The Council has achieved several significant program outcomes. In 2015 and 2016, the Council provided advice and suggestions to make the World Virtual School available to American overseas schools. This project, begun in FY 2011, will be especially helpful to the Department of State by making this capability available to assist the schools in continuing instruction during emergencies that require school closures. Thus, students can continue their education without significant disruption. Since 1983 the council has proposed and advised on 136 needed educational enhancement projects for the American overseas schools. These schools have a total enrollment of approximately 138,000 children of U.S.-citizens. The projects were developed in cooperation with the overseas regional schools' associations. Under the Council's guidelines, projects may take from one to three years to develop and complete, in addition, the guidelines require the schools' associations to contribute funds or in-kind services to development of the projects. The program has provided an array of videotapes, handbooks, study guides, student and teacher manuals, transparencies, computer software, lesson plans, and instructional packages. In FY 98 the Council funded the Emergency Procedures Manual for Overseas Schools Project. This project has been made available to all American overseas schools. Since that time the Council has funded four updates which include topics such as pandemics, terrorism and trauma. In FY 04 the Department of State approved the Council's proposal to begin placing their educational enhancement projects on the Department's Internet and Intranet web sites. The OSAC projects cover a variety of subjects that affect the educational programs of overseas schools including training of teachers, administrators, staff and school boards, developing and updating educational curriculum, developing programs for handicapped and gifted and talented students, and helping students develop leadership skills. In addition, OSAC has developed a number of projects, which support the use of educational technologies (computers, CD-ROM, multimedia and telecommunications) to assist these schools in preparing their students for the information age. Since the inception of the Educational Assistance Program, OSAC has made copies of these projects available without charge to international schools and to interested individuals. The Council’s decision to post many of these projects on the Internet will make them even more widely available to schools in the U.S. and around the world, as well as to educators and the general public. At present, the first fifteen projects can be downloaded. Projects will continue to be posted on the site as soon as they have been technically readied for posting and downloading. In Fiscal Year 2004, the Council proposed a project to provide training in standards-based curriculum writing and assessment for American overseas schools. This project provides professional development for teachers in these schools to enable them to implement fully the academic standards in mathematics, science, English, and social studies, and the assessment methods developed in the Council's Project AERO (American Education Reaches Out), completed in 2003. The new training program supports the maintenance and delivery of an American, standards-based curriculum by addressing the need of teachers in American overseas schools for clear, common, and comprehensive standards to design curriculum, make instructional decisions, and evaluate students. The first institutes in curriculum and writing to the AERO standards in mathematics, English, and social studies were held for teachers in American-sponsored overseas schools in the summer of 2004. These institutes have continued from 2005 through 2019 and now include science and social studies. Current priorities include continuing to support existing projects while reevaluating priorities for the coming years. For FY24 OSAC is working towards enhancing existing initiatives aimed at supporting mental health, social emotional learning, special needs, as well as child protection. Currently committee members are working alongside the Office of Overseas Schools to identify key programs to supplement support of existing programs.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	These projects are utilized in over 193 schools around the world. It is not possible to place an accurate cost savings to the projects.	Grants Review Comment	No grants were awarded.
Number Of Recommendations*	22	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The council is currently utilizing the Office of Overseas Schools strategic goals: Special Needs, Well-being, and Leadership/Good Governance.	Access Agency Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	33.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	All schools who have expressed an interest in the World Virtual School Project have received the program and training required to implement the project. The Child Protection Project has been working with a Child Protection Task Force which has taken the lead on this project.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	67.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	The Child Protection project is in the final phase of implementation this year; the Special Needs Project is ongoing at this time and the Social Emotional Learning Project is in the initial stage of implementation.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Access to the council's work can be secured by contacting the DFO.
Agency Feedback Comment*	Representatives from the Office of Overseas Schools meet with school personnel during scheduled visits. Additionally, council members often schedule site visits as well during their business travel overseas. Information is exchanged between the school and the REOs/council members and shared during the public meetings. Members of the public wishing to inquire or request information regarding Department assisted international schools can send requests for information via email to the Communications Team at the Office of Overseas Schools.	Narrative Description*	The Council supports the Departments mission and Strategic Goal # 2 of the FY 2018-2024 State-U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Strategic Plan: Modernize the Way we do Diplomacy and Development through enabling diplomats and development professionals to influence and operate more efficiently, effectively and collaboratively. This support is provided in several ways; at the two Council meetings held each year and on other occasions throughout the year. Members provide information and advice from the U. S. business community to assist the Office of Overseas Schools in assuring that the dependents of USG and U. S. corporate overseas employees have access to high quality educational opportunities abroad. Members obtain such information through consultations with their colleagues in the U. S. business community and through visits to overseas schools where they review the schools' needs and USG educational assistance programs. In addition, Council members provide recommendations to the Office of Overseas Schools regarding programs and activities that would be of benefit to the schools. Examples include encouraging expansion of Special Needs Education in overseas schools and increased Child Protection efforts in the schools. The Council also sponsors projects needed to enhance the educational programs of the 193 American overseas schools. The projects are developed in cooperation with the overseas regional school associations and funded by contributions from the Council firms and other U. S. corporations. These institutes have continued from 2005 through 2019 and now include science and social studies. Current priorities for the council include continuing to support existing projects while reevaluating priorities for the coming years. The primary beneficiaries of this training project are more than 138,000 children of U.S.-citizens.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	3/12/2025 10:07 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Education Education Schools and Academic Institutions Training Emergency Emergency Preparedness and Management Housing and Urban International Programs, Studies, and Diplomacy Science and Technology Science and Technology

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