Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the IB Program topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents, teachers and students praise Newport Harbor’s IB program and urge broader access
Summary
During public comment, multiple teachers, parents, students and union representatives praised the International Baccalaureate program at Newport Harbor High School for rigor, college preparation and equity, and urged the district to expand outreach and access; Superintendent Smith affirmed district support.
Community members, educators and current and former students used public comment time at the June 24 board meeting to highlight the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program at Newport Harbor High School and to ask the board to expand access.
Why this matters: Speakers described IB as a two-year, internationally recognized diploma program that requires sustained commitment and yields transferable college credit, increased rigor and broader course access. Several speakers said IB has become a district differentiator that attracts families and supports higher-level coursework for a more diverse student population.
What speakers said: Alma DiGiorgio, IB diploma coordinator at Newport Harbor High School, explained that the IB diploma is a structured, two-year course of study in which “every piece matters,” and that missing internal assessments can jeopardize the diploma. Teacher Matt Armstrong said the English department has doubled the population of students in higher-level courses since adopting IB curriculum and linked that growth to improved college-credit opportunities. Students and alumni described the extended essay, the Theory of Knowledge seminar, the evening TOK classes and the exhibition as formative experiences; graduates reported acceptance to selective colleges, including international institutions.
Superintendent response: Superintendent Dr. Smith said the district is “proud of the program” at Newport Harbor, noted encouraging preliminary data, and said the district would look for ways to expose more students to IB opportunities while maintaining program integrity.
Quotes: “The IB diploma is recognized in over 150 countries,” said Alma DiGiorgio. “We’ve doubled the population of students in these higher-level courses,” said Matt Armstrong. Student Samantha Villard described the IB exhibition as “a great way for me to practice public speaking” and urged greater student participation.
What’s next: Trustees acknowledged the program’s apparent successes and asked staff to continue outreach and articulation efforts to feeder schools so families and students understand IB pathways early in their elementary and middle-school careers.
