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New Association Formed to Support International Baccalaureate in Indiana
By Christine Marson
 
To support the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program in Indiana, representatives from elementary, middle and high schools came together in December 2008 to form the Hoosier International Baccalaureate World Schools Association (HIBS). The association represents 19 authorized Indiana IB programs and three schools in the authorization process.

The mission of HIBS is “to promote the values, ideals, and expansion of the International Baccalaureate Program and to support existing and prospective Indiana International Baccalaureate World Schools.” To support IB in Indiana, the association will:

• Facilitate regular communication among IB schools.
• Provide a liaison with the Indiana Department of Education and postsecondary schools.
• Support professional development and training.
• Sponsor IB staff and student activities.
• Promote research of the benefits of the IB program and examinations.
• Act as a clearinghouse for information about IB.
• Pursue funding for specific projects related to IB.

The International Baccalaureate Program couples an international focus with a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for success in a global economy. In 2008, 123 International Baccalaureate diplomas were awarded to Indiana students. Indiana’s expansion of the increasingly popular program spurred the development of HIBS.

While still in its infancy, the association is quickly building a support system for IB. The association soon will offer teacher symposiums and roundtable discussions to provide additional assistance for curriculum development. HIBS hopes that such offerings will allow teachers to connect with other colleagues in their respective subject areas, discuss lesson plans and how they relate to Indiana state standards, and share best practices. “HIBS came about because we recognized that Indiana IB schools would benefit from targeted guidance, support, and assistance,” said Bridgette Joseph, Ben Davis High School IB coordinator, English teacher and president of HIBS.
 
As the 28th sub-regional association to develop, HIBS benefited from other associations’ advice and guidance. “Michigan’s association helped us understand association funding. Texas shared tips on how to interact with state legislatures. Florida provided information about their IB certified trainings, which we hope to soon offer in Indiana. Ohio’s association explained teacher roundtables, which we now provide,” said Joseph. “We have been able to borrow strong points from other associations to build ours up. The IB community is well-connected and very willing to share ideas and best practices.”
 
Administered by the International Baccalaureate Organization, IB offers a pre-university curriculum for primary, middle, and high school years through which students can graduate with an IB diploma. The diploma is recognized in more than 2,000 universities in 74 countries of which over 900 are United States universities. More than 2,445 schools in 131 countries offer the IB curriculum to over 667,000 students worldwide.  

 

Published: February 2009