In the fall of 2003, Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) collaborated with Prince George's Community College and South African educators to enhance educational management and instructional expertise in South Africa. This effort was in support of Prince George's Community College for their implementation of the grant, Leadership Institute for South African Secondary Education. Twenty-two department of education officials from South Africa shadowed MSDE staff members by rotating through departments of MSDE in order to gain an understanding of how state departments of education in the United States function to provide quality education for children. In addition, thirty South African principals began an online course, Instructional Leadership through Data-Driven Decision-Making, offered by MSDE through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.