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Yucaipa-Calimesa board hears overview of International Baccalaureate evaluation and curriculum alignment
Summary
School and IB coordinators outlined the district’s ongoing IB self-study, professional development, unit-submission requirements and a combined PYP/MYP evaluation visit slated for next February; board members asked about visiting team composition and international representation.
The Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified Board on the evening’s agenda received a detailed briefing on the district’s International Baccalaureate (IB) programs and the multi-step evaluation process that will culminate in an international visitation next February.
Jennifer Stall, the district’s Primary Years Program coordinator, described the current self-study phase and the five IB-related policies the site follows — inclusion, language, assessment, academic integrity and access/admissions — and said staff and families are completing Learning Community reflection surveys to document progress against IB program standards and practices. “These surveys reflect SEA’s progress towards those IB program standards and practices,” Stall said, summarizing the evidence the school is assembling.
Kristen Berer, the Middle Years Program coordinator, outlined next steps: a preliminary review of submitted units and a four-day evaluation visit during which an external team will meet students, teachers, parents, board members and district staff to evaluate alignment between written curriculum and classroom practice. Berer said district teachers completed multi-day inquiry-focused professional development and are submitting both disciplinary and interdisciplinary units to demonstrate curriculum alignment. “When they come for those four days, they’ll get to talk to the students, the teachers, the support staff, parents, board members and district staff as well,” Berer said.
Board members asked whether visiting teams include international representatives; presenters confirmed teams often include members from outside the United States. Officials stressed that the evaluation is collaborative and framed as an opportunity to identify strengths and areas for growth rather than a punitive inspection.
The board did not take action on the IB items at the meeting; presenters said additional information and student-led presentations will follow at subsequent meetings as the self-study proceeds.
