On February 3, 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Camões — Institute for Cooperation and Language, I.P. and the California Department of Education (CDE) during a ceremony held at the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, located on the 5th floor of 1430 N Street in Sacramento, California.
The Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco, Filipe Ramalheira, participated in the ceremony and signed the MoU on behalf of the President of the Board of Directors of Camões, I.P., Ambassador Florbela Paraíba. The California Department of Education and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, were represented by Deputy Chief Superintendent Ingrid Roberson. Also in attendance were João Caixinha, Coordinator of Portuguese Education in the United States, and Duarte Pinheiro, Deputy Coordinator of CEPE-USA in California.
It is important to highlight the crucial role played by the Portuguese diplomatic and consular network in the United States, whose commitment and leadership were decisive in securing this agreement. Equally significant was the contribution of the Coordination of Portuguese Education in the USA (CEPE-USA), which ensured technical and strategic coordination throughout the process, provided pedagogical support during negotiations, and framed the MoU within broader priorities for promoting the Portuguese language in the California K–12 education system.
This new MoU establishes a framework for enhanced cooperation between the two institutions over the next five years. It expressly recognizes the importance of English and Portuguese as instruments for communication and the exchange of ideas in fields such as economics, science, history, and culture. It also affirms the shared commitment to strengthening community ties through educational collaboration, expanding opportunities for the education sector, and advancing a multilingual and multicultural society. Negotiations gained particular momentum during meetings held in June and October 2025 involving key CDE officials responsible for multilingual education and strategic program areas.
The signing of this agreement represents a significant milestone in strengthening educational ties between Portugal and the State of California. It consolidates a formal framework for cooperation aimed at supporting the teaching and learning of the Portuguese language and culture in American public schools — particularly within the California K–12 system — thereby reinforcing national efforts and creating conditions to expand the presence of Portuguese in the U.S. education landscape. It is especially noteworthy that, according to the Department, this marks only the third Memorandum of Understanding signed by the CDE with a foreign country or governmental entity, demonstrating institutional recognition of the value of multilingualism and international educational cooperation — priorities consistently emphasized by Superintendent Tony Thurmond.
This MoU symbolizes not only the consolidation of a strategic partnership between Portugal and one of the most influential educational institutions in the United States, but also a mutual commitment to promoting multilingualism and expanding students’ access to global and inclusive education.
Efforts will be made to ensure broad visibility for the signing of this MoU among relevant stakeholders. Work will continue to maximize its impact within educational, academic, and Portuguese-American communities in California, and to initiate implementation through concrete initiatives, support mechanisms, and continued engagement with the CDE.
This achievement represents an important milestone for Portugal, for Camões, I.P., for the Portuguese diplomatic and consular network in the United States, and for the Coordination of Portuguese Language Teaching in the USA, whose sustained collaboration with both past and current CDE teams — alongside the Consulate General of Portugal in San Francisco and the Language Services Directorate of Camões — made this outcome possible.
A special note of appreciation is extended to educators, teachers, and community leaders across California whose dedication and commitment to promoting the Portuguese language continue to make initiatives such as this possible.
Source: Press Release @ Camões I.P.
