Latest press release—21 February 2006

Statement on the decision of the Upper St Clair School Board to discontinue IB programs

New York, NY February 21, 2006

IB NORTH AMERICA OFFICE

The International Baccalaureate (IB) respects the authority of a local school board to determine the educational programs that best meet the needs of the students and the community.  However, it is with regret that we hear of the decision of the Upper St. Clair School Board to discontinue its IB programs, apparently for financial reasons. In our experience, such decisions are very rare.

The vocal support of parents, students and the community for their IB programs is clearly based on the quality and rigor of the curriculum, the global perspectives, and the recognition offered to students graduating from the IB Diploma Programme, recognized worldwide as one of the most challenging academic programs for high school students.   

All IB students learn a second language and the skills to live and work with others internationally—essential for life in a globalized 21st century world.  To encourage international mindedness, we believe that students must first develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity.  More than 1700 schools in 122 countries, including 610 in the United States participate in our programs.  The quality of the IB Diploma Program has been recently recognized by the US Department of Education in President Bush’s proposal for the American Competitiveness Initiative, which aims to increase student achievement in math, science and foreign languages. 

It is the support from the community that has allowed the program to thrive over the past seven years and enrich the lives of so many students.  Our only hope, in the light of the board’s decision, is that those who have participated in the IB programs will continue to be “active, compassionate and lifelong learners” in keeping with our mission.

Contact: Megan Schade

email: megan.schade@ibo.org

telephone: 1-212-696-4464 x31

fax: 1-212-889-9242