This document discusses the addition of an International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. It provides demographic data about the student body and staff. In 2008, the school board mandated that all Minneapolis high schools offer the IB program to encourage students to attend their neighborhood school and attract those receiving education outside the district. The IB program model involves six academic areas and core requirements completed over two years. Roosevelt's implementation timeline is outlined, including hiring a coordinator, teacher training, and the inaugural class. Potential roadblocks like funding and administrative support are acknowledged. Overall, only test results will determine the program's long-term success or whether it was just a passing fad.
2. Demographics
Student Race Students
• Native American 0.2% Receive ELL Services 42%
• African/ African American 47% Qualify for free reduced lunch 83%
• Asian American 0.5% Receive Special Education 25%
• Hispanic/Latino American 32%
• White American 16%
Number of Staff Teacher Ethnicity
• Teachers 65 Native American
1%
• Classroom Assistants 55 African/African American 13%
• Administrators 3 Asian American 0%
• Social Workers 4 Hispanic American 1%
White
American 85%
3. In the spring of 2008 the school board, along
with superintendent Bill Green, mandated that
all Minneapolis high schools offer the
International Baccalaureate Programme.
The thinking was that this would
Encourage students to enroll in their
neighborhood school, rather than city-wide
Attract students living in the district, but receiving
their education outside of the district, to return
Offer more advanced courses to students who
want an academic challenge, but don’t want to
enroll in the IB program.
4. Program model
The curriculum is modeled by a hexagon with six academic areas surrounding the three core
requirements.
Group 1-Language (in this instance English)
Group 2-Second Language (at Roosevelt French or Spanish)
Group 3-Individuals and Societies ( at Roosevelt World History)
Group 4-Experimental Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, or Physics)
Group 5-Mathematics and Computer Science
Group 6-The Arts (at Roosevelt Music or Art)
Over the course of a two year program students:
Study six subjects from the subject group
Complete an extended essay
Follow a Theory of Knowledge course (TOK)
Participate in creativity, action, service (CAS)
Normally three of the subjects are studied at higher level (HL): courses representing 240 teaching
hours
The three remaining subjects are studied at standard level (SL): courses representing 150 teaching
hours
What is IB?
5. IB Coordinator is
hired
Summer 2008 September 2008
Application for IB
certification
October 2008
Teachers
are
interviewed
and selected
Implementing Change: A Timeline
November 2008
Selected teachers
write a course
outline for their
subject
January – April 2009
Teachers are
sent to various
trainings
throughout the
world
June 2009
Roosevelt is
accepted as an IB
world school!
August 2009
Recommendations
for potential
students are
accepted
September 2009 – June 2010 August 2010
Students are
accepted to the
program
The inaugural
year kicks off
with testing to
begin in 2012
January –May 2009
Brown bag lunches and
parent meetings are held
to inform of the process
and progress of the
program
6. Potential Roadblocks
The district will not implement a 7 hour
day
Not enough teachers are willing to be
trained
New superintendent with new agenda
The district at some point will stop
funding the program
7. Overall assessment
Administration/Leadership
Left the program as optional as to
avoid/minimize resistance.
Held meetings for staff and parents
E-mailed progress daily/weekly
Celebrated small victories
Created a special budget for IB specific needs
8. Only time, and test results, will determine if
implementing the IB program has been a
success or just another fad.
9. References
International Baccalaureate World Programme. Curriculum.
Retrieved from http://www.ibo.org
Roosevelt High School. Demographics, who we are. Retrieved
from http://roosevelt.mpls.k12.mn.us