Highly-motivated and talented students in School District 43 may soon have another option for an enriched education.
The district is applying to the International Baccalaureate (IB) governing body to host an IB program at Terry Fox Secondary, commencing, September, 2013.
Board chair Melissa Hyndes said in a statement this week that high demand for the challenging program prompted the expansion. "The board recognized this, and built in some funds in the recently-adopted budget to explore IB expansion to the east side of the district."
Currently, IB programs for Grades 9 and 10 and for Grades 11 and 12 are offered at Port Moody secondary.
If the program is approved, students will have IB choices in another area of the school district.
IB includes appropriately challenging experiences in an environment of positive stimulation that comes from working within class groupings of similarly motivated and talented students, according to the school district.
The expansion of IB was among several new programs that will move forward next September. In April, the board of education approved $125,000 in its budget for a new Reggio Emilia program, Montessori support, IB expansion and a middle school gifted program.
