Twenty-first century schools must prepare students to be knowledgeable, compassionate citizens and effective leaders within a rapidly transforming world. This objective requires an understanding of one's own culture while extending well beyond the boundary of the nation where instruction occurs. Such schools:

1. Present a view of the world that invites and rewards curiosity concerning the richness and diversity of all human societies and encourages respect for all people.
2. Develop a curriculum that helps students recognize how differing cultures, traditions, histories, and religions may underlie views and values that can sharply contrast with their own.
3. Provide resources and activities in support of instruction that can help carry learning in the direction of world understanding.
4. Expect teachers, administrators, and other staff members to model respect for all peoples and cultures and to address constructively instances of bias or disdain for nationalities, cultures, or religions outside of their own.
5. Seek beyond the institution itself partnerships and networking that may help it promote global awareness, experience, and problem-solving for its students.
6. Educate and encourage parents to support school initiatives that promote global understanding.
7. Seek a diversity of cultural, national, and ethnic backgrounds in the recruitment of teachers and administrators.

Global awareness is defined as the recognition and understanding of interrelationships among international organizations, nation-states, public and private economic entities, sociocultural groups, and individuals across the globe.