LANSING – When high school students graduate from an International Baccalaureate program, they have completed multiple, rigorous academic programs and in most cases have a head start on college credits.
IB programs are similar to Advanced Placement courses, and in both cases students in either type of program can be eligible to receive college credit for the work they completed in high school.
The difference is that AP courses routinely receive college credit, but how colleges treat IB work varies widely from university to university.
On Wednesday, March 4, the state Legislature adopted a resolution encouraging colleges and universities in the state to adopt a more consistent approach in how college credit is granted for students who complete the high-level coursework. Cheering in the background were representatives from International Baccalaureate Schools of Michigan, a group that advocates for IB programs.
IB Schools of Michigan worked with Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, and Rep. Matt Koleszar, D-Plymouth, to get the resolution presented.
“IB represents the very best of what education can be,” Polehanki said during a rally at the east Capitol steps following the vote. “It’s rigorous. It’s global. It challenges students to not just memorize facts but think critically. thoughfully and engage in the world around them.”
Around 200 people attended the rally.
Michigan doesn’t have clear, consistent policy guaranteeing that IB course work will be recognized for college credit, Polehanki said.
“That’s a shame, and that’s our fault,” she said.
Lynne Gibson, vice president of IB Schools of Michigan and head of school for the International Academy in Bloomfield Hills, said other states have policies in place acknowledging the rigor required of an IB course and offering more consistency in how credits are granted.
“There are so many other states that have credit policies, and the international piece is just so important,” Gibson said. “There are states and there are people that recognize the rigor of IB, it’s just unfortunate that we don’t have consistent credit policies for students.”
She said a lot of students end up leaving the state and looking to continue their education outside of Michigan where they can get more clarity on what to expect. Additionally, it prevents out-of-state students from looking toward Michigan for continuing their education, said Carrie James, secretary of the International Baccalaureate Schools of Michigan.
James said the goal of the resolution is to bring more collaborations between International Baccalaureate Schools of Michigan and other educational organizations, and make sure colleges keep IB in mind when thinking about how credits are awarded.
IB classes are typically run as two-year, rigorous, critical thinking focused classes. Most exams the students take do not include any multiple choice questions and require analytical thinking.
There are standard level and higher level courses, and higher level courses do typically receive credit, depending on scores.
Gibson said the inconsistency for how courses are awarded college credit is unfair for IB students, making them pay to take courses with content they’re already familiar with.
James said there’s a lot of frustration for students who don’t have their college-level work recognized by the universities they go on to attend, because students end up spending more money on schooling.
“Our goal is to raise awareness so IB is in that conversation as policies are being introduced,” James said. “We see consistent recognition for AP scores, and we do not see consistent recognition for IB scores.”
When the resolution is presented March 4, hundreds of students are expected to join International Baccalaureate Schools of Michigan at the Capitol, and will join the gallery when the resolution is presented.
“IB is putting learning into action,” Gibson said. “This is what inquiry-based learning looks like, at the Capitol. These are our students, our families, our educators who really are passionate about the rigor of this curriculum and the benefits it provides, and they’re willing to come to the Capitol and raise awareness so we can indeed have consistency among colleges. Rigorous courses are good for families and they’re good for Michigan.”
She said the resolution has been receiving widespread support from people familiar with IB programs.
“It is just so inspiring to see the enthusiasm,” Gibson said. “We never could’ve imagined that so many people from administrators at the highest level to boards of education to students, it’s really an opportunity to have a positive interaction with policy making. … This is what IB does. IB teaches students to think outside the box and have their voice heard.”
Ken Palmer contributed to this report. Contact Karly Graham at kgraham@lsj.com. Follow her on X at @KarlyGrahamJrn.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: International Baccalaureate students, teachers asking colleges for fair treatment
Reporting by Karly Graham, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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