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International Baccalaureate: Collaboration on IB Between K-12 and Higher Education Systems

Why does it matter?

  • Schools, universities and students benefit when K-12 and postsecondary partnerships facilitate the provision of IB offerings and the quality of these offerings.

    • Highlights:

  • Three states direct that postsecondary institutions play a role in offering IB courses or networking among schools. This figure does not include states in which the university role is defined only by the offering of IB teacher training.

    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 and regulations and will be updated as new policies and programs are enacted.

    Last update: August 20, 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

    • Collaboration on IB between K-12 and higher education systems
    Arizona Yes. The Options for Excellence program administered by Arizona State University seeks to increase the number of challenging curriculum options in middle and high schools in the state, as well as the number of students demonstrating achievement in such options, as measured by IB, CLEP and Advanced Placement (AP). The program serves "as a liaison between teachers, schools, and districts, and the IB, AP or ACT agencies that provide resources for rigorous school-wide curriculum and increase teacher performance."
    Florida Yes. "The levels of postsecondary education shall collaborate in further developing and providing articulated programs in which students can proceed toward their educational objectives as rapidly as their circumstances permit." International Baccalaureate is one of the acceleration programs on which collaboration is mandated.
    Minnesota Yes. 2007 H.F. 1063 allocates fiscal year 2008 and 2009 funds to the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to provide "academically rigorous educational opportunities," including IB and Advanced Placement (AP) to students in remote and underserved areas where the district lacks the resources to provide such programs. Courses may be provided by high school or postsecondary staff, or via distance learning.


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