The statement cited the success of existing exchange programs, such as Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) and BridgeUSA, stressing that fostering international education at home is essential for growth, particularly in the high school environment.
The US Departments of State and Education are calling on school districts across America to welcome incoming students from around the world and embrace international exchange programs.
In a joint statement released March 13, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona emphasized the numerous benefits of hosting secondary school students from around the world, including fostering global understanding, developing global competencies in the classroom, and volunteering in their respective communities.
The statement cited the success of existing exchange programs, such as Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES), and BridgeUSA, stressing that fostering international education at home is essential for growth, particularly in the high school environment.
“U.S. students, researchers, scholars, and educators benefit when they engage with their peers from around the world, whether it be overseas or through international education at home,” noted the joint statement. “In addition to helping students develop global competencies, high school exchanges also contribute to an increasingly interconnected society.”
Tens of thousands of students from almost 60 countries are said to vie for around 2,100 slots in the CBYX, FLEX, and YES programs. More than 20,000 privately funded high school students are also said to come to the US under the BridgeUSA program, each going through a rigorous application process as well as receiving support from a nonprofit sponsor organization during their stay.
The US remains a top destination for international students worldwide. The majority of international students studying in the country originate from China and India, totaling 290,086 students and 199,182 students in the school year 2021-22.
