In a handful of nations, virtually all children are learning to make complex arguments and solve problems they’ve never seen before. These kids are learning to think and thrive in the modern economy. How did these countries get so smart and what is it like to be a kid there?

In her new book The Smartest Kids in the World, journalist Amanda Ripley follows three American teenagers who spent one year living in Finland, South Korea and Poland – meeting their friends, their teachers and their host parents, and learning from their stories, along with groundbreaking research into education worldwide.

Join New America NYC and a group of researchers and educators for a conversation on what we all can learn from the world’s education superpowers. 

AMANDA RIPLEY: Author, The Smartest Kids in the World; Emerson Fellow, New America Foundation

BINH Q. THAI: Humanities Teacher, University Neighborhood Middle School

WENDY COPP: Founder and Chair of the Board, Teach For America; CEO and Co-Founder, Teach For All

ROMESH RATNESAR: Deputy Editor, Bloomberg Businessweek; Future Tense Fellow, New America Foundation

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