RICHMOND, Va. (CBSDC/AP) — The Virginia Department of Education says it has entered a partnership with a large French school district to boost educational and cultural ties.

The four-year partnership with the Academie de Reims in northeastern France will include collaboration and student exchanges, student-teaching opportunities, and exchange programs for Virginia French teachers and French English teachers. A signing ceremony Monday signaled the formal agreement.

The department said in a release that several Virginia schools will be part of the program, including Gar-Field High School in Prince William County.

French is the second largest foreign-language program in Virginia’s public schools.

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