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AED, formerly the Academy for Educational Development, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses on education, health and economic development for the "least advantaged in the United States and developing countries throughout the world."[1] AED currently operates more than 250 programs in the United States and in 150 other countries around the world.[2]
History and scope AED headquarters in Washington, D.C. AED was founded in 1961 by Alvin C. Eurich and Sidney Tickton. Originally focused on providing technical assistance related to higher education management in the United States, AED has expanded into instructional technology, education reform, and civil society support in the US and around the world. AED also focuses on promoting health in developing countries through environmental communication, social marketing and other disciplines. Currently AED works throughout the United States and in 167 countries.[3] AED currently operates more than 250 programs to help people improve their lives through better education, health, and economic opportunities. It is also a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.[4] Programs AED has five main program areas: global health, population, and nutrition; global learning; leadership and institutional development; social change; and US education and workforce development. Each group has between four and seven centers. AED is one of six partnership support organizations chosen by the New York City Department of Education to provide New York City public schools with technical assistance in a variety of areas.[5] AED's Center for Academic Partnerships stated aim is to work with educational institutions and individuals in the United States and around the world to "strengthen and diversify academic exchanges and educational linkages." This Center facilitates international students' study in the United States, American students' study abroad and service learning abroad through the AED Development Fellows Program, as well as faculty and professional exchanges and short term institutes.[6] On July 25, 2009 Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced plans to send up to 10,000 Iraqi students per year to colleges in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia over the next five years as a part of the Iraq Education Initiative, for which AED will provide advice and support.[7] Other programs include the AED Center for Youth Development and Policy Research, which began the Promising Practices in Afterschool System in 1999 with funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.[8] AED's Middle Start program provides research-based professional development programs that invigorate teaching and learning resulting in improved rigor, equity, and achievement.[9] The National Security Education Program David L. Boren Fellowships for graduate students, offered by George Washington University, are provided by AED.[10] GreenCOM, sponsored by AED, is the strategic environmental communication project of the U.S. Agency for International Development, providing services to USAID missions and environmental and agricultural program managers worldwide.[11] AED is a major partner in USAID's "DOT-COM Alliance," leading the dot-ORG program (one of the three programs).[12] Controversy Executive Compensation In 2009, AED drew criticism when it was revealed that then-President Stephen Moseley was paid US$879,530 in total compensation in 2007. Moseley said his 2007 compensation, which included "catch-up" payments into an executive pension fund for prior years, was "in line" with competitors.[13] Moseley announced his January 2011 retirement in November 2010.[14] USAID Suspension In December 2010, the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, suspended AED from being awarded new federal service contracts from USAID for 12 to 18 months due to evidence of "serious corporate misconduct" revealed after investigations of the agency's expenditures in Pakistan and Afghanistan. At that time AED had 65 contracts and grants through USAID totaling $640 million.[15] Settlement Agreement with US Government On June 30, 2011, AED signed a settlement with the US Department of Justice in which it agreed to pay more than $5 million to settle false claims act allegations. [16] According to the US Government AED had failed to provide proper oversight and management of USAID projects in the semi-autonomous tribal regions of Pakistan and parts of Afghanistan. As a result, the US Government received substandard service and products at inflated prices. The Department of Justice also alleged that executives at the Washington DC office of AED did not properly disclose information about overcharges and other financial mismanagement. [17] Transfer of all AED Programs to FHI 360 Concurrent with the settlement agreement AED executed a transfer of virtually all of its existing programs and employees to another US AID contractor NGO, FHI. The AED programs combined with FHI to create a new entity, FHI-360.[18] With that, AED effectively ceased to exist. See also References External links ar:
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