Dow High expands co-taught IB classes to increase inclusion for students with IEPs

Scott Cochran, principal at Dow High School, told the Midland Public Schools Board of Education on Aug. 18 that the school is expanding co-taught classes to give students with individualized education programs full access to rigorous coursework. “We’re talking about a service, not a place,” Cochran said, describing inclusion as providing supports so students with IEPs can be "full participants in their education" with peers. Cochran described co-taught offerings for the coming year that include IB Language and Literature 2 for seniors, a co-taught health class, and additional co-taught science and social studies sections for ninth- and tenth-graders. He said the district is emphasizing accommodations rather than modifying curriculum: “We want to accommodate our students so they’re able to achieve and understand the curriculum. We don’t want to modify the curriculum or water it down.” The principal said the program is already showing scale: about 106 students took the IB language and literature assessment last year, “about a third of our senior class.” He reported that assessment results translate into college credit at varying rates depending on the institution, citing roughly 56% receiving credit under University of Michigan policies and about 87% under Saginaw Valley State University policies, numbers he attributed to how colleges evaluate IB scores. Cochran credited teaching staff and the school’s IB coordinator for leading the work, naming Sam Nelson, Sarah Peratt and Sarah Pankost. He said the International Baccalaureate Organization approached the school to highlight the approach and that the district hopes to expand co-taught options. Board members praised the focus on inclusion. A board member said the presentation reflected the district’s vision to ‘‘make sure that every single student … has an opportunity to not just come to school but to be challenged.’’ Cochran emphasized multiple postsecondary pathways for students, noting that some participants move to selective colleges while others pursue community college or trade programs. No formal vote or policy change was taken at the meeting; the item was presented as a school spotlight and update.