International Baccalaureate (IB)

The International Baccalaureate® (IB)​ offers a continuum of programmes for students aged three to 19 that are designed to encourage both personal development and academic achievement by  challenging students to think critically, to ask the right questions and think across disciplines. Schools must be authorized and approved by IB prior to offering their programmes.  ​

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Student Recruitment and Participation 

Per KRS 160.348(1)(b)​, “each secondary school-based decision making (SBDM) council shall offer a core curriculum of Ad​vanced Placement (AP), IB, dual enrollment, or dual credit courses…”. Statute requires the SBDM to “establish a policy on the recruitment and assignment of students to AP, IB, dual enrollment, and dual credit courses that recognizes that all students have the right to participate in a rigorous and academically challenging curriculum,” (2). ​

KRS 160.348(2) further provides that “[a]ll students who are willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum shall be admitted… if they have successfully completed the prerequisite coursework or have otherwise demonstrated mastery of the prerequisite content knowledge and skills as determined by measurable standards.”   

IB Programmes 

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) offers a continuum of international education through four challenging, high quality educational programmes to students aged three to 19. 

• The Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged three to 12 “offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding.” 
  
• The Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11 to 16 provides “a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.” Students who complete the MYP are “well-prepared to undertake the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or Career-related Programme (CP).” 
• The Diploma Programme (DP) for students aged 16 to 19 “builds students’ inquiring mindset, fosters their desire to learn, and prepares them to excel at their careers and lead meaningful lives.” Specifically, IB states that the DP allows students to: 
• have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge 
• flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically 
• study at least two languages 
• excel in traditional academic subjects 
• explore the nature of knowledge  
• The Career-Related Programme (CP)​ for students aged 16 to 19 provides a framework that “incorporates the values of the IB into a unique programme addressing the needs of students engaged in career-related education.” The programme aims to provide students with “further/higher education, apprenticeships or employment.” 

Exams  

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) assesses student work as direct evidence of achievement against the stated goals of the Diploma Programme (DP) courses.  

Visit the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) postsecondary readiness webpage for more information on how the IB exam score may be used as a qualifying indicator for determining student readiness.  

Fees 

The KDE will reimburse school districts for IB exams taken by students who qualify for free/reduced lunch. Any additional fees associated with registration will be the responsibility of the school or district including late and cancellation fees. 

General information related to exam fees for advanced coursework can be found here​.  ​
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