Principals Propose International Baccalaureate Program For Elementary Students

Three elementary school principals presented a proposal on Tuesday to the Dexter Schools Board of Education for an International Baccalaureate program that could be implemented in the pilot stages for elementary students starting in the spring.

Mary Cooper, principal of , Craig McCalla, principal of and Tim Authier, principal of , delivered a presentation on the the Primary Years Program (PYP). The IB Primary Years Programme, for students ages 3 to 12, focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer and allows teachers to develop programs that focus on in-depth investigations into important ideas such as how the world works and how we express ourselves.

"The United States has 20 years of curriculum to teach in 13 years. Let's narrow what we want the students to learn, and focus and look more deeply at it," Cooper said.

She said through the IB program, students will learn topics that spiral through each grade without teaching the same content.

"Students will explore topics differently in kindergarten than as a fourth grader," she said.

Cooper said if the program is approved, teachers would meet weekly to create lesson plans that would be consistent throughout the grade level, and find ways to connect subjects such as math and science together instead of focusing on each one seperately.

"PYP provides the framework. Let's show the kids how learning and the world fits together," she said.

McCalla said that he believed the district was ready for the program, adding that costs had been set aside to implement the program.

Trustee Kim Covert said she was concerned about the method of teaching associated with the program.

 "Does everybody's delivery have to become (similiar)?" she asked.

McCalla said that each teacher would be allowed their own individual way of introducing a topic in the classroom.

Covert also wondered whether the inquiry focused approach would allow teachers to complete a lesson.

"If we let the kids drive the bus, the inquiry based (approach) might not get through the material," she said.

Cooper said she believes the PYP program would distinguish Dexter Schools from other districts, and would be a big draw to the community. 

Local parent Jennifer Maische disagreed, requesting that the district investigate the IB program further before implementing it.

"There are only 165 schools in the whole country (that have IB)," she said. "Are we going to leap off a cliff without investigating it?"

Maische said the program could cost as much as $17,000 to apply, and each teacher would be required to take IB training at $1,500 apiece.

"That's $50,000 to $60,000 before you even offer a class," she told the board. "And you don't even have enough information. I don't get it."

In other business:

• Superintendent Mary Marshall announced that the 2010 graduation rate for Dexter High School was 94.55 percent for a four-year course, while the drop out rate was 1.72 percent. This amount does not add up to 100 percent, she said. The difference between graduate rates and drop out rates are because some students are off track, meaning they are continuing to pursue their education, but didn't finish their coursework on time to graduate with their class. Others who finish late may also pursue a graduate equivalent diploma. Other discrepancies are because special education students can take classes until they are 26, and many do not finish their coursework in the four years allotted high school students.