Education Programs

The Institute of Latin American Studies at Columbia University offers resources and research on education, both to K-12 teachers and educators in New York City, and to education policy experts and researchers. To find out more about our resources, please click on the options below:

The picture shows a cobbled stone wall with painted stones in multiple different colors.

The ILAS K-12 Outreach Program strives to enhance the professional capacity of teachers in New York City's multicultural environment and promote the inclusion of Latin American history and culture into students's classrooms and daily lives. Drawing on the expertise and support of faculty and students across Columbia, the program offers educators resources and opportunities to learn about creative ways of incorporating Latin American history and culture into their curricula.

The picture shows a Teachers College conference with four speakers at a table and a full audience in an auditorium.

 ILAS' education policy events and resources focus on providing education policy makers and experts with opportunities to exchange views on ongoing policy issues and topics throughout the Americas, as well as original research material. Events are organized in partnership with the Latinx and Latin American Faculty Working Group, while research material is produced by the Latin America Collaborative Project Team at the Department of International and Transcultural Studies, both at Teachers College, Columbia University. 

Image of Paulo Freire wearing a green shirt and glasses.

To pay homage to Paulo Freire’s legacy and contribute to expanding it, Teachers College and the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies at Columbia University's Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) are creating the Paulo Freire Initiative at Columbia University on September 19th, 2021, day of Freire’s Centennial.

The Paulo Freire Initiative also has a public advocacy role, by partnering with other universities and institutions around the world to keep Freire’s legacy alive. In years to come, we hope that Columbia’s PFI will continue to expand its activities, with academic publications, fellowships, events, and the strengthening of the community of Freirean scholars on campus and beyond.