For the last 30 years international assessments have become more widespread and systematic, and their influence on education policy has increased: the OECD through the PISA tests has played a major role in this process. This article reflects on the case of the countries of the Southern Cone: Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. It analyzes the relationship between the OECD, PISA and the education policy agenda setting as part of the process of internationalization of schooling. [This paper was presented at the bi-annual CESE Conference held in Nicosia, Cyprus, in May 2018.]