Israel Center for Excellence in Education

The Israel Center for Excellence in Education (Hebrew: המרכז הישראלי למצוינות בחינוך), known in English as The Society for Excellence through Education (SEE) and formerly as the Association for Excellence in Education, is a non-profit association founded in 1987 that operates in Israel and several other countries. Its mission is to nurture excellence, creativity and educational leadership among students, and it advocates equal opportunity for all strata and sectors of the population. The association funds its activities mainly through donations. The organization's founder, Rafi Amram, served as its director-general until his death in 1997, and was succeeded by Hezki Arieli. The current director-general is Eli Totian. Bob Asher chaired the association from its founding, and since 2014 Professor Nava Ben-Zvi has held that role. Shlomit Amichai serves as chair of the high school for sciences and arts. Other members of the association include Mary-Jane Asher, Mark Chais, and Prof. Zeev Tadmor, among many others. The center's core ongoing activity is the operation of the Israeli High School for Sciences and Arts, a private boarding high school established in 1990 for outstanding students. About 80 students are admitted each year who excel in one or more of the following fields: sciences, music, visual arts and the humanities. The student body is diverse, drawing from across Israel and all population strata. Beyond the pursuit of excellence, the school upholds values of community contribution, coexistence and personal responsibility, expressed in its boarding-school format. Following the success of the high school, the association developed the "Excellence 2000" program, which operates in various Israeli schools to advance the association's goals among younger populations. The program works in elementary schools, middle schools and high schools and runs projects such as the Ilan Ramon Space Club, the Guildor Project for scientific invention and creation, the Scientific Experience program, and the Research Science Club, among many others. A 2002 study by the Henrietta Szold Institute found that the program addresses the intellectual needs of outstanding students and contributes to teaching quality and to changing students' attitudes toward the sciences. The program is funded by the association under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and leading academic institutions in Israel and worldwide, with additional sponsorship from the Skirball Foundation and the Mitchell-California Foundation. During school vacations the association runs enrichment activities for outstanding students, centered on the Yassa-Brinket Camp for graduates of eighth grade who excel in sciences, music or art, and a six-day Scientific Summer Camp for graduates of sixth and seventh grades recommended by their teachers. Through the Chais Institute for Training Teachers for Excellence, the association trains and mentors teachers in its programs, offering 22 training tracks. The Center for Cultivating Excellence works in Israeli schools to instill the values of excellence as a community goal, operating steering committees, professional conferences and a computerized learning center. In the United States, the association maintains knowledge-sharing relationships with leading educational and academic institutions, and the Excellence 2000 program has been adopted by American schools with support including English translations of study units, an annual seminar in Israel, virtual professional support and virtual activities between students in Israel and other countries. In the 2006–2007 school year, Excellence 2000 operated in 95 schools across the United States.

The Israel Center for Excellence in Education was founded in 1987 as a non-profit association (Hebrew: עמותה) under the name "Association for Excellence in Education," later known in English as The Society for Excellence through Education (SEE). Its founder, Rafi Amram, served as director-general until his death in 1997, when Hezki Arieli was appointed as his successor. The association is funded mainly through donations and advocates equal opportunity for all strata and sectors of the population. In 1990 the association established its flagship institution, the Israeli High School for Sciences and Arts, a private boarding high school in Jerusalem for outstanding students. About 80 students are admitted each year who excel in sciences, music, visual arts or the humanities, drawn from across Israel and all population strata. The school emphasizes community contribution, coexistence and personal responsibility alongside academic excellence. Building on the high school's success, the association developed the "Excellence 2000" program to reach younger students in elementary, middle and high schools across Israel. The program runs projects including the Ilan Ramon Space Club, the Guildor Project for scientific invention and creation, the Scientific Experience program and the Research Science Club. A 2002 evaluation by the Henrietta Szold Institute found that the program met the intellectual needs of outstanding students and improved teaching quality and student attitudes toward science. It is funded by the association under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and leading academic institutions, with sponsorship from the Skirball Foundation and the Mitchell-California Foundation. The association also operates summer enrichment activities, notably the Yassa-Brinket Camp for outstanding eighth-grade graduates in sciences, music and art, and a six-day Scientific Summer Camp for sixth- and seventh-grade graduates recommended by their teachers. Through the Chais Institute for Training Teachers for Excellence, it trains and mentors teachers across 22 training tracks, and the Center for Cultivating Excellence promotes excellence values in schools through steering committees, professional conferences and a computerized learning center. Internationally, the association maintains knowledge-sharing relationships and peer visits with leading educational and academic institutions specializing in gifted education. The Excellence 2000 program was adopted by schools in the United States, supported by English translations of study units, an annual seminar in Israel for American program directors and instructors, virtual professional support, and virtual activities between students in Israel and other countries. In the 2006–2007 school year, Excellence 2000 operated in 95 schools across the United States.

• 2014

  Prof. Nava Ben-Zvi becomes chairperson of the association.

• 2006

  Excellence 2000 operates in 95 schools across the United States during the 2006–2007 school year.

• 2002

  Henrietta Szold Institute evaluation finds the Excellence 2000 program meets outstanding students' intellectual needs.

• 1997

  Founder and Director-General Rafi Amram dies; Hezki Arieli appointed as successor.

• 1990

  Israeli High School for Sciences and Arts established as a private boarding high school.

• 1987

  Association founded as the Association for Excellence in Education.

Non-profit educational association promoting excellence, creativity and educational leadership among gifted students, funded mainly by donations and operating in Israel and abroad.

• Israeli High School for Sciences and Arts

  Private boarding high school in Jerusalem for outstanding students in sciences, music, visual arts and humanities; admits about 80 students per year.

• Excellence 2000

  Program operating in Israeli elementary, middle and high schools, including the Ilan Ramon Space Club, Guildor Project, Scientific Experience program and Research Science Club; also adopted in the United States.

• Yassa-Brinket Camp

  Summer camp for outstanding eighth-grade graduates in sciences, music and art, held at the high school's boarding facilities.

• Scientific Summer Camp

  Six-day camp for sixth- and seventh-grade graduates recommended by their teachers, focused on science and mathematical thinking.

• Chais Institute for Training Teachers for Excellence

  Trains and mentors teachers in the association's programs through 22 training tracks.

• Center for Cultivating Excellence

  Operates in Israeli schools to instill excellence values, running steering committees, professional conferences and a computerized learning center.

1. 1המרכז הישראלי למצוינות בחינוך – Wikipedia (Hebrew)he.wikipedia.org
2. 2Wikidata Q16128867wikidata.org
3. 3Official websiteexcellence.org.il