The EARCOS organization serves to promote cooperation and communication among its Members, to advance the professional growth of schools and individuals and to broaden and enrich the educational opportunities of the students we serve. In these tasks it will work with other regional school associations and with institutions and organizations serving the purposes of international education. The EARCOS mission is supported through its strong links with the Office of Overseas Schools of the U.S. Department of State. The East Asia Regional Council of Schools is an organization of 153 member schools in East Asia.These schools have a total of more than 100,000 pre-K to 12th grade students. EARCOS also has 176 associate members—textbook and software publishers and distributors, universities, financial planners, architectural firms, insurance companies, youth organizations, etc—and 35 individual members. Membership in EARCOS is open to elementary and secondary schools in East Asia which offer an educational program using English as the primary language of instruction, and to other organizations, institutions, and individuals interested in the objectives and purposes of the Council.