One of the programs discussed in “After Core Knowledge, What Next?” the International Baccalaureate program, has recently been adopted by a Core Knowledge School in Massachusetts. Readers might be interested in the following press release describing the experience of Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in attaining authorization to offer this program as well as their views on how well it integrates with Core Knowledge

Core Knowledge School to Offer I.B. Program

Mystic Valley Regional Charter School earns approval from the International Baccalaureate Organization of Geneva, Switzerland

The Mystic Valley Regional Charter School has been granted authorization by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) of Geneva, Switzerland to grant the distinguished International Baccalaureate Diploma to graduating seniors beginning in 2007. Mystic Valley becomes the first public school in the Metro Boston area, and the second among all Boston-area schools, to be recognized by the IBO. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year, college-preparatory course of study that is highly regarded for its academic rigor by universities around the world.

High School Students at
Mystic Valley Regional Charter School

Critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and exposure to a variety of points of view are emphasized throughout the Diploma Programme’s curriculum. Worldwide standards of learning and achievement are established by the organization. Courses are taught in English, French, or Spanish in selected schools around the globe. Through nearly 40 years of operation, the IBO has demonstrated that students and teachers benefit from these challenging criterion-referenced benchmarks. Students have proven to be well prepared for university work. Acceptance rates to the nation’s most selective colleges are significantly higher for students who have earned the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Teachers have benefited from the required instructional training and the diverse array of professional development opportunities provided by the IBO.

As a developing school (adding a new grade level each year since 1998) in only its seventh year of operation, Mystic Valley was founded with the IB Diploma in mind. The school’s charter called for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to be the capstone of its compressive K-12 curriculum design. In order to prepare students for the rigor of the IB Programme, the Core Knowledge model was chosen as the as the general curricular framework for all instructional content in grades K-8. After the school’s initial implementation of the Core Knowledge approach in 2000, the impact on student knowledge and skill levels was immediately evident. Mystic Valley became an official Core Knowledge visitation school in 2003.

The Mystic Valley first graduating Class of 2006 will have opportunities to earn IBO certificates in several disciplines. In a statement from the IBO’s North American Office, Diploma Programme coordinator Michael Hennessy stated that,” As the first public high school in Metro Boston to be granted authorization, Mystic Valley has attempted and succeeded to offer its students a wholly unique academic opportunity.” School Superintendent Dr. Anthony Biegler stressed the school’s commitment to its students, “We wanted to insure our students have proven standards of learning that would prepare them for the colleges of their choosing.”