The Virginia Department of Education presented a data and program update on International Baccalaureate (IB) programming in the Commonwealth, joined by Laura Lane of the IB Organization.

Amanda Navetrell, director of the Office of Advanced Learning at the Virginia Department of Education, described IB growth in Virginia and program models: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP, referred to as NYP in the presentation), Diploma Programme (DP), and Career-related Programme (CP). Navetrell said most IB programs in Virginia are in public schools and reported that roughly 40,000 Virginia students attend an IB school. For May 2025, agencies projected about 1,500 students to earn an IB diploma and about 4,000 students were diploma-program course candidates (students taking one or more DP courses but not pursuing the full diploma). The department reported that during the prior school year Virginia public school students took over 15,000 IB exams across 45 subjects, with the majority earning a score of 4 or better — a score commonly accepted for college credit under Virginia institutions’ credit policies.

Laura Lane, senior manager for IB World Schools for the region, summarized program structures: the MYP (most often grades 6–10 in Virginia) requires interdisciplinary learning experiences each year and two milestone projects (a Community Project in grade 8 and a Personal Project in grade 10). The DP is a two‑year program (grades 11–12) with at least one course from each of six subject groups plus three core elements (Theory of Knowledge, Creativity/Activity/Service, and the Extended Essay). The CP requires a minimum of two DP courses, a career‑related study with an external examination element, and core project work including a reflective project. Lane described examples of interdisciplinary MYP units (a fitness/science unit and an Earth Day civic/science unit that included a town hall with Rep. Don Beyer) and said authorized IB schools receive a verification visit and are re-evaluated every five years; schools also belong to a regional peer network (Mid‑Atlantic Association of IB World Schools).

Board members asked about program breadth, authorization and re‑evaluation processes, retention rates, and ways to incentivize more participation especially at the primary and middle years levels. Lane said candidacy timelines vary (about one to three or four years depending on readiness), that the IB formally evaluates schools every five years, and that the IB organization provides ongoing support. Navetrell noted work on professional development and on aligning statewide credit-transfer practices with Shev policies; she said roughly 71% of Virginia IB students remain in‑state for college. Board members expressed interest in strategies to increase primary and middle‑level participation and in options to support divisions seeking authorization.

No board action was taken; department staff said they will continue outreach and professional development support for divisions pursuing IB authorization.