tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post690314980340519116..comments2023-08-24T05:24:51.011-04:00Comments on PURE Reform: Shift of IS Students to IBQuestionerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-65759970209644119582008-10-25T00:21:00.000-04:002008-10-25T00:21:00.000-04:00Reform of the IB program has also been mentioned, ...Reform of the IB program has also been mentioned, with the administration citing another district that chose which IB courses to offer based on how well they aligned with state tests. Any change in the IB program that will affect a particular class year should be announced well before students in that class year commit to the program.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-32554644210471931262008-10-10T05:21:00.000-04:002008-10-10T05:21:00.000-04:00Thanks for the IB/IS explanation. I will point ot...Thanks for the IB/IS explanation. I will point other parents to it. I feel like I will retain the info more than I would by getting it from the Magnet Booklet sent out every year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-87761286665768050982008-10-08T21:15:00.000-04:002008-10-08T21:15:00.000-04:00The IB program is an internationally recognized pr...The IB program is an internationally recognized program that is treated by colleges as comparable to AP courses (http://www.ibo.org/diploma/). Before this year the PPS offered only the 2 yr program (for 11 and 12 grades). The 2 yr program is very demanding and tended to be chosen most by students in CAS (center for advanced studies classes). Tests and papers would often be sent out to international reviewers. An alternative was International Studies, a Pittsburgh-specific program that allowed students to continue languages they may have been studying in the IS feeder schools. The courses seemed to be good and solid but were not as challenging as IB. In some IB subjects there are more and less difficult levels but even so some IB students would choose to take courses they found especially difficult as IS and seek an IB certificate rather than the full diploma. Only about 20 students a year earned the full IB. Now, IS is to be replaced entirely by IB. We are told that the 6 - 10 grade program is less difficult, and at the same time that by taking the 6 - 10 program students will be prepared for the difficult 11-12 IB program. Many parents predict that to accomodate enough students the district will eventually need to go back to offering an IB/IS program.Questionerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04349071186140766778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49258804305307213.post-71550301422516698342008-10-08T20:33:00.000-04:002008-10-08T20:33:00.000-04:00Please forgive me for asking about something that ...Please forgive me for asking about something that should be understood if I spent the time with the magnet prograsm book the district sends out, but can you help me understand IB and IS? I know IB got a lot of press when one of the suburban school districts wanted to delete the program for what they offered, but I am in need of help to figure it out beyond that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com