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International Baccalaureate: State Mandates IB Program Offerings

Why does it matter?

  • States, schools and districts benefit when standards are taken seriously based on the same high expectations and the same basis of evaluation for all students.

    • Highlights:

  • Currently no state requires all high schools to offer IB.
  • Seven states, however, require all high schools to offer dual credit opportunities, of which IB is one option. This will increase to eight states with West Virginia in the 2008-2009 school year.

    States with no written policy in this area do not appear below.

    Sources for all data points are accessible through this link.

    • What is International Baccalaureate?     For more details on the IB Diploma Program, please refer to this summary for state policymakers or visit the IB Web site.

    Methodology: This information was collected from state statutes, rules and regulations, and will be updated as new policies and programs are enacted.

    Last update: August 16, 2007

    This database was compiled by Jennifer Dounay, project manager, ECS High School Policy Center. For questions, additions or corrections: 303.299.3689 or jdounay@ecs.org.
    State mandates IB program offerings
    Arkansas No. However, a high school offering the IB Diploma Program is exempt from the requirement to offer at least 4 AP courses by 2008-2009.
    Idaho No, although effective with the 2007-2008 school year, all high schools must either offer "advanced opportunities," (defined as AP courses, dual credit courses, Tech Prep, or IB programs), "or provide opportunities for students to take courses at the postsecondary campus."
    Indiana No, although each high school must offer one of the following:
    (1) Two Advanced Placement (AP) courses and corresponding exams
    (2) Dual high school/college courses that result in 6 college credits
    (3) One AP course and one dual course resulting in 3 college credits
    (4) Two IB courses and corresponding exams.
    Kentucky No, although each high school is mandated to "offer a core curriculum of advanced placement, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment, or dual credit courses, using either or both on-site instruction or electronic instruction through the Kentucky Virtual High School or other on-line alternatives."
    Mississippi No, although a high school that offers the IB Diploma Program is exempt from the requirement that beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, all high schools offer 1 AP course in each of the areas of English, math, science and social studies.
    Oregon No, although all districts must offer the Expanded Options Program, which provides opportunities for 11th- and 12th-graders to earn postsecondary credit through dual credit technical preparation programs, such as two-plus-two programs, AP and International Baccalaureate.
    Texas No, although all districts are required to offer students the opportunity to earn the equivalent of at least 12 semester credits in high school. IB is one of the means by which this college credit may be earned.
    Virginia No, although all schools must provide either three Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment courses, IB courses, Cambridge courses, or any combination thereof.
    West Virginia No. However, effective with the 2008-2009 school year, all high schools must offer a minimum of four AP courses or the International Baccalaureate program.


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