Newswise — Bethesda, Md. -- The International Baccalaureate (IB) applauds the efforts of the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) to improve the quality of education across the United States through the Common Core State Standards initiative (CCSS). In a position paper published today, the IB states that it shares the U.S. Department of Education’s and the state education departments’ goals of developing internationally benchmarked standards, and the ambition to better prepare all students for success in college and career development. In its position statement, the IB noted its citation in 2011 as one of only five sets of standards against which the Common Core could be measured by education experts to determine whether or not success was met in reaching quality education goals.
“The IB supports the adoption of the Common Core standards in the U.S.,” states Drew Deutsch, Director, IB Americas, “The aims of the Common Core initiative coincide with the primary aims of the IB: to raise academic standards, to improve college readiness and completion rates of students studying at universities, and overall, to support students in successful educational careers that lead to successful professional or vocational careers in business, technology, science, math and engineering, among other necessary and valuable pursuits.” Since its founding more than four decades ago as an educational foundation, the IB has promoted learning progression and skills development for pupils and students 3-19 years of age.
“The IB’s goals and core values are genuinely aligned with the aims and desired outcomes of the Common Core initiative,” says Deutsch. “IB programmes are internationally recognized, and in the case of the Diploma Programme, highly valued and sought after by top tier and accredited universities throughout the United States and around the world.”
About the Common Core States StandardsThe Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were developed through a state-led initiative and have been adopted by 45 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia. Currently, English Language Arts and Mathematics standards are available. Full implementation of the CCSS and new assessments are expected in 2014–15.
About the IBFounded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is a nonprofit foundation that offers four high quality, challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools. IB programmes prepare students for life in a globalised 21st century and aim to develop citizens who will create a better, more peaceful world. Currently, more than 1 million IB students study in approximately 3,500 authorized IB World Schools, in more than 145 countries.
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