Trustees to Discuss Education Program

Simi Valley school trustees today will hear about the International Baccalaureate program, which provides advanced instruction to high school students.

Staff members from Santa Susana High School--the district’s magnet school for technology and performing arts--are interested in joining the program as a way of attracting new students and enriching the learning experiences of those already enrolled.

In Ventura County, only Newbury Park High School in Thousand Oaks participates in the national program.

International Baccalaureate classes often are accepted for college credit and stress the subjects of English, foreign language, experimental sciences, math and art. The program also requires that students take part in a community-service project and take a core “theory of knowledge” class that ties the subjects together.

The school would pay $2,500 to apply and $7,500 a year to belong to the program, district officials say. Judging from costs incurred by the program at Newbury Park High, more money would be needed for staff development, instructional materials and equipment.