Bay Shore outlines launch of IB career program and debates bringing back IB physics, including decoupling Regents

Bay Shore Union Free School District officials told the board during a work session that the district has submitted its application to authorize the International Baccalaureate Career‑related Programme (CP) and is positioned to launch the program in September pending IB approval.

“Kathleen” (IB/CP lead) said the district has completed outreach to students and families, trained career‑related studies teachers, worked with Northwell on pathway curriculum, and currently has 31 students signed up for the September start. She added that the IB verification team visited the district and that official feedback from IB can take up to 56 days.

The program will offer distinct pathways (healthcare and business are the two pathways named) and includes core CP components such as a reflective project and career‑related studies. Kathleen said staff used assemblies, Google Classroom group meetings and family nights to recruit and counsel students and that memoranda of understanding with Northwell for the two pathways are with Northwell’s legal team.

The board then moved into an extended conversation about reintroducing IB Physics at the higher‑level (HL) as a way to bolster enrollment in the full IB diploma program. Mr. Sullivan said he had seen student interest drop in part because the district has not offered IB Physics in recent years. Kevin, speaking for the science department, said the district has four physics teachers (three with prior IB experience) and recommended restoring the course without additional staffing.

A central question raised by staff and board members was whether to decouple the New York State Regents physics exam from the IB sequence. Kevin said decoupling the Regents requirement from the IB physics course would give teachers more classroom flexibility to focus on IB curriculum and complete the large IB internal assessment (IA) without diverting class time in May–June to Regents preparation. “If we decouple the Regents examination it now provides us a little bit more flexibility to spend more time focusing on the specifics of the IB curriculum,” he said.

Supporters argued decoupling could make IB Physics more attractive and reduce scheduling conflicts with AP offerings. Lou, who discussed college‑credit recognition, said reinstating IB HL physics would likely not harm students’ college prospects and could in some cases be a draw, though he encouraged stronger guidance counseling so students choose courses that match their college plans.

Board members pressed practical concerns: whether HL physics must run for two years, how lab‑minute requirements will be met, whether students passionate about AP physics could still access Regents physics if desired, and potential effects on enrollment in other physics sections. Staff responded that labs could be accommodated, senior‑year scheduling or extra help could address gaps, and existing AP and physics options would remain.

Next steps: staff will continue to gauge student interest, complete discussions with teachers, refine proposals about sequencing and Regents decoupling, and return with a formal recommendation for board consideration and possible changes to course scheduling and counseling guidance. The district is awaiting formal IB feedback on the CP authorization.