Exchange program in the U.S. for Brazilian Awarded Public School Principals | SBR25020CA0023

Opportunity Information: Apply for SBR25020CA0023

The Exchange program in the U.S. for Brazilian Awarded Public School Principals is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia to support the design and delivery of a ten-day professional exchange in the United States for a delegation of top-performing Brazilian public school leaders. The Embassy plans to make one cooperative agreement award, with an estimated maximum budget of up to USD 210,000 in FY2020 funds, to cover a project period of no more than one year. The activity was expected to begin around March 14, 2021. While only one award was anticipated under this notice, the Embassy notes that the initiative could be renewed for up to three additional years if outcomes are strong and if future funding and travel conditions allow. The opportunity was released under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act, as amended, and the Embassy retains discretion to fund some, all, or none of the submitted applications and to determine the final funding level.

At the center of the project is a ten-day U.S.-based program for 27 Brazilian public school principals who won Brazils Premio Gestao Escolar (PGE), often described as the countrys National Award for Excellence in School Management. The travel group also includes three additional Brazilian education leaders: one representative designated by the National Council of State Secretaries of Education (CONSED) and two representatives from State Secretariats of Education, bringing the total delegation to 30 educators. The selected implementer is expected to develop and execute the full exchange experience, including the agenda, institutional visits, workshops, and opportunities for peer learning and professional networking, in a way that gives participants a practical and well-rounded view of how U.S. secondary education is organized and how different school models operate in practice.

The Embassy frames the exchange as an extension of a long-standing partnership with CONSED and as a way to reinforce and elevate the PGE itself. The PGE was partially inspired by the U.S. governments Principal of the Year concept, which Brazilian education officials originally encountered through a U.S. visitor program. Since 1999, CONSED, working with public and private partners, has selected one outstanding public school principal from each of Brazils 26 states plus the Federal District. Beyond recognition, the awarded schools receive cash awards, educational materials, and a formal certificate recognizing excellence in school management and leadership, and they are featured in a national documentary highlighting effective education practices. These schools are positioned as local reference points for innovation and results, often serving as models and mentors for other schools. The Embassy argues that the U.S. exchange component has helped increase the prestige of the PGE over time and has contributed to the awards role as a major self-evaluation and continuous improvement mechanism for Brazilian public schools.

The purpose of the exchange is to expose Brazilian school leaders to high-quality examples from across the U.S. education system and to connect them with institutions and specialists who can offer concrete, transferable insights. A major emphasis is on understanding the variety of U.S. high school models and the different ways curriculum and pathways can be structured. The program is expected to highlight regular comprehensive high schools as well as specialized and alternative models such as magnet schools, vocational-technical programs, charter schools, and university preparatory schools. In addition, the exchange is meant to explore partnership models involving the private sector and civil society, with an eye toward identifying practical synergies, collaboration opportunities, and follow-on initiatives that could continue after the delegation returns to Brazil.

In terms of goals, the Embassy links the exchange to Brazils interest in curriculum flexibility and structural reforms in basic education, suggesting that U.S. examples can provide useful reference points as Brazil continues to evolve its own system. The program is also positioned as a relationship-building tool that strengthens bilateral cooperation in education and reinforces the United States as a key partner for Brazil in this space. The intention is not only to provide exposure, but also to help participants build a durable professional network and return home with ideas that can be adapted to their local realities.

The notice outlines several specific learning objectives for the U.S. portion of the program. Participants should take a deep dive into the U.S. educational system, exchange experiences and best practices with U.S. education experts and counterparts, and visit a cross-section of high school models to see how governance, instructional strategies, student supports, and performance expectations differ across settings. The program is also expected to include exposure to innovative learning strategies and a focused workshop on school management and leadership. Another component is engagement with key U.S. education institutions and associations, which can broaden participants understanding of the ecosystem that supports schools, leadership development, standards, and innovation. Finally, the program calls for participants to develop a program journal that can be used as the foundation for an action plan to implement or pilot relevant ideas back in Brazil, helping ensure the exchange results in concrete next steps rather than ending with the trip itself.

Administrative details in the source listing describe the opportunity as discretionary and structured as a cooperative agreement, reflecting an expectation of close coordination between the awardee and the U.S. Embassy during planning and implementation. The opportunity number is SBR25020CA0023, it is categorized under education, and it lists CFDA 19.040. The posting date was July 13, 2020, with an original application closing date of September 1, 2020, and it identifies eligible applicants broadly under an "Others" category with clarification to be provided in the full eligibility section of the announcement.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Brazil in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exchange program in the U.S. for Brazilian Awarded Public School Principals" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 13, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 01, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $210,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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