Program for high achievers rejected

The Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education opted to shelve implementation of the International Baccalaureate program at its Jan. 22 meeting.

The board made its decision after more than two years of cautious steps forward and back, and a recent detailed research initiative.

The district considered implementing the program as an option for high achievers to the Advanced Placement program “” which has experienced a decline in recent years.

The program, introduced in 1967, is recognized throughout the world; it strives to make students “global citizens” and emphasizes critical thinking. It does not have a study abroad component. Currently, 69 California schools participate in the program out of 1,900 schools worldwide.

Researchers concluded the program would cost up to $200,000 per year to run, while only benefiting about 10 students per grade.

The district plans to revisit the issue in future years if educational trends continue to flow toward the program, geared toward the highest-achieving students. It will monitor trends in similar top schools in the state, and continue staff instruction in the program as teachers who have taken the courses have commented on improvements in their own methodologies.

The district will also consider the addition of an elective similar to the program’s fundamental Theory of Knowledge course.

The committee included School Board President Betsy Jenkins, board member Ketta Brown, Laguna Beach High School Principal Don Austin, counselors Gretchen Ernsdorf and Nance Morrissey, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Nancy Hubbell, and Superintendent Robert Fraisse.

In other developments, the board honored Morrissey and the student members of a new campus literary magazine with its “Spotlight on Excellence” quarterly award.

The board also received an update on the high school NovaNet program, which provides online course options to students seeking to retake a class or complete it in addition to their normal course work.

The pilot program was launched last summer; several students have been able to complete several courses.