LTC 179-2009 International Baccalaureate (IB) Implementation Status and 2010 IB Conference of the Americass; r-~ ,,, _ ,; ~-
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 1J9-2009
LETTER TO COMMISSION
To: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
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Date: July 6, 2009
Subject: International Baccalaureate (IB) Implementation Status and 2010 IB
Conference of the Americas
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to update the Mayor and
Commissioners on the status of the implementation of the International Baccalaureate
(IB) Program pursuant to the City of Miami Beach Education Compact agreed to on
January 16, 2008, and selection the Cify of Miami Beach as the host City for the 2010 IB
Conference of the Americas.
One of the initiatives of the education compact is to implement the Intemational
Baccalaureate program throughout all Miami Beach public schools. As of June 2009,
all public elementary, middle, and high schools in our City are currently International
Baccalaureate (IB) candidate schools, which continues to produce exciting
developments for our community. Both the City and the schools are moving forward with
the IB process and working together towards becoming IB authorized. The City
sponsored IB conference in March was very successful and provided training to
approximately 500 teachers from schools throughout our City, Miami-Dade County, as
well as private schools and educators from across the country.
The next step in the implementation of the IB initiative involves the schools' merging of
three essential programs developed by The International Baccalaureate Organization
(IBO). These programs are the Primary Years Program (PYP grades K-5), the Middle
Years Program, (MYP grades 6-10) and the Diploma Program (DP grades 11-12). This
initiative will allow teachers to create a continuum of access and excellence in education,
giving students the tools they need to succeed academically at an early age.
Implementation of the IB citywide allows schools the flexibility to take advantage of the
richness of their student base and the learning opportunities available within our City.
Currently, our elementary schools are in the process of mapping out their curriculums as
they plan to implement the PYP program beginning in August 2009. PYP will be taught
in the kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms at South Pointe, Fienberg-Fisher,
North Beach, Biscayne and Treasure Island elementary schools. Miami Beach Senior
High, Nautilus Middle and Feinberg-Fisher K-8 Center have formed a triangular
partnership to support the implementation of a five-year MYP. This will ensure our youth
have access to the IB at every grade level within our City. Miami Beach Senior High
School submitted the final application for authorization for the Diploma Program, and
anticipates a site visit in Spring 2010. Throughout the summer, teachers in all programs
have been meeting with their peers across the City to share lessons, teaching strategies,
classroom experiences and suggestions for refinement.
The IB recently announced chat Miami Beach would be the site for the 2010 IB
Conference of the Americas, from July 14-18, 2010, at the Fontainebleau. The
conference will welcome over 1,500 members of the worldwide IB community to
participate. The 2010 l6 Americas conference will bring together IB coordinators,
teachers, administrators, counselors, school district officials, school board members,
ministers of education, parents, researchers, and university representatives. This is the
one time each year that the entire IB community comes together; which provides a
unique opportunity for collaboration among educators. The City of Miami Beach is
honored to host this conference: and we are excited to provide the educators in our
region the unique opportunity to share lessons learned with their peers from around the
world, so close to home.
We have made excellent progress to date in the implementation of this important
initiative and anticipate healthy discussion opportunities with City schools as we strive to
meet the educational needs of our children. Information is available on our City's
website on the Education Tab.
Should you have any questions, or need additional information, please feel free to
contact me.
JMG(KGB/MS/LDR