Bullard (1980) observed that global events do not always relate to the content of formal education. She quoted the study by Torney, which found out that the period before the age of fourteen was especially important because the child's openness to diversity in this period was more likely to foster positive international attitudes. In the United States of America, there were still stereotypes towards Asian and African countries, which demonstrated limited knowledge of international affairs among Americans.
In response to the need, the U.S. federal government created guidelines and regulations to strengthen the nation through international studies at elementary and secondary schools, though the amount of funding was limited. One of the recommendations was to extend the knowledge of other civilizations to the broadest population base possible and to integrate topics such as foreign language and international studies into the general curricula for students of all ages at all levels of study throughout the nation. Others also included licensing and accreditation, staff training, curriculum development, exchange, media, cooperating services, and research. In 1978, Anna S. Ochoa, the president of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), and Lorraine A. Strasheim, the president of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), examined ways of collaboration for K-12 education (Bullard, 1980).