New Delhi - The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), announced today a new $4.3 million partnership with Arizona State University's (ASU) Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College to share educational best practices with Indian teachers.

In partnership with the Government of India Ministry of Human Resource Development, the India Support for Teacher Education program (In-STEP) will send 110 educators from teacher training institutes in the eastern and northeastern states of India to ASU to participate in a three-month program.  The intensive training course will cover a range of topics including teaching methods, in-service and pre-service teacher education, and assessment techniques.

As part of this customized program, Indian educators will observe American schools and educational best practices.  In addition, the Indian participants will work closely with ASU professors to prepare proposals for reform in specific areas of education, which they would then be able to implement in their respective states. The ultimate goal is better-trained teachers and improved educational outcomes for Indian students.