The Education Office coordinates and supports a network formed by operators’, bodies, public and private institutions sharing the interest for the dissemination of Italian language and culture in formal, non-formal and informal local education contexts.
These activities may be carried out:
- at school level
- private schools with educational equality adopting the Italian curriculum;
- international schools with Italian language sections;
- local schools providing a bilingual curriculum:
- at course level (operated by local non- profit associations – Enti gestori)
- as part of local schools’ curriculum;
- as elective optional activities during or after school hours.
- at College and University level with the support of Italian lecturers
The educational offer in Italian language is supported both through economic resources provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and through the employment of teachers from the Italian Ministry of Education selected and trained to carry out the teaching profession in international context.
The Italian Cultural Institute of New York offers Italian language courses for adults, both in the classroom and through distance learning activities, and it is an examination center for the acquisition of the certificates of competence in the Italian language according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
Other bodies collaborating with the Education Office that autonomously promote Italian language and culture, also through prizes, competitions and scholarships, are:
AATI American Association of Teachers of Italian
ILF Italian Language Foundation
ILICA Italian Language Inter-Cultural Alliance
NIAF National Italian American Foundation
OSIA Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America