Frequently Asked Questions: IB Middle Years Programme
For Interested Schools
- What is the IB Middle Years Programme?
- What grades does the IB Middle Years Programme encompass?
- Ours is a middle school with only three grade levels and so does not span
the full five years of the programme. Can we still offer the IB Middle
Years Programme? - Do all students in a school have to follow the IB Middle Years Programme?
- Do IB Middle Years Programme students have to take IB examinations?
- Do IB Middle Years Programme students receive any acknowledgement for
their work? - How does a school become a IB Middle Years Programme school and how
long does it take? - Is there any special training that our teachers need to participate in or
special assistance to prepare them to teach the IB Middle Years
Programme? - How much does the IB Middle Years Programme cost?
- Are there any funds available to assist schools in setting up or defraying the costs of offering the IB Middle Years Programme?
- Are there schools offering the IB Middle Years Programme that we can
visit? - How can my school find out more about the IB Middle Years programme
and becoming authorized?
What is the IB Middle Years Programme?
The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) is an educational framework that
requires students to study in eight subjects (literature taught in the
student’s native language, foreign language, social studies, science, math,
arts, physical education, and technology) in each of the five years the
programme lasts. Local, state, provincial, or national curriculum
requirements are the basis of each subject's content.
Teachers present their curriculum focused through the MYP’s Areas of Interaction,
so that the instructional strategies change, rather than the subject content.
The model embodies three fundamental concepts: communication (valuing
language acquisition in at least two languages), holistic learning (finding the
connections across and within the subjects and grade levels), and internationalism
(a growing understanding of a student’s own culture coupled with an understanding
and appreciation of other cultures).
What grades does the IB Middle Years Programme encompass?
In most schools in North America, the IB Middle Years Programme is a five-year
programme that begins with grade 6 and continues through grade 10.
In some schools, such as those in Qu��bec, the MYP begins with grade 7 and
continues through grade 11. The programme may be implemented in as
little as two consecutive grade levels following or preceding another IB
programme to as many as five grade levels. The decision for the length of
time of a MYP is determined by the local educational structures that exist.
Ours is a middle school with only three grade levels and so does not
span the full five years of the programme. Can we still offer the IB
Middle Years Programme?
In order to receive IB authorization to offer the IB Middle Years Programme,
middle schools are expected to form partnerships with junior high schools
and/or secondary schools in order to provide the full five years of the
programme. Where local educational structures do not allow the four- or
five-year MYP to be offered on a single site, schools may be authorized to
teach the programme over a shorter period provided the following
conditions are met:
��� the programme is at least three (3) years in length if it is offered in
isolation from the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and/or IB Diploma
Programme.
��� where the school wishes to offer the MYP as a continuation of the PYP, or
immediately prior to the Diploma, the programme is taught over at least two (2)
consecutive years.
Do all students in a school have to follow the IB Middle Years
Programme?
The IB believes that all students can find tremendous growth and value in
the IB Middle Years Programme. The programme has been designed to be fully
inclusive so that all students are able to participate in it. Having said that,
the IB recognizes varying local needs and therefore permits schools the
flexibility to determine which students it will enroll in the programme.
Do IB Middle Years Programme students have to take IB examinations?
No. There are no IB examinations in the IB Middle Years Programme.
Classroom teachers design their own examinations, using a common set of
IB designed assessment criteria to mark the examinations. The process of
external moderation is available to schools to standardize teachers’ marks
in order to ensure that the assessment criteria are applied equally to the
work of MYP students. Schools that choose to participate in external
moderation submit samples of student work that are reviewed by a team of
specially trained MYP teachers from around the world
Do IB Middle Years Programme students receive any acknowledgement
for their work?
Students who complete the five-year IB Middle Years Programme may receive an IB
certificate of achievement. While the certificate is not considered a
diploma or a school-leaving certificate, it is evidence of a student’s good
preparation for further studies, such as the IB Diploma or other rigorous
programmes. It represents significant achievement and takes into account
academic as well as non-academic aspects, such as community service and
the creation of a personal project.
How does a school become a IB Middle Years Programme school and
how long does it take?
Schools wishing to offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) to its students
must be officially authorized by the International Baccalaureate (IB). Authorization
is granted to schools that successfully complete the application process, wherein schools
present detailed plans and evidence that they are prepared to offer the MYP and have
spent at least one full year implementing the programme on a trial basis.
All prospective schools are encouraged to contact IB North America at the coordinates
listed at the end of this FAQ for assistance with the application process and
the steps they must take towards becoming authorized IB Middle Years
Programme schools.
Is there any special training that our teachers need to participate in
or special assistance to prepare them to teach the IB Middle Years
Programme?
Yes. The unique nature of the IB Middle Years Programme means that
teachers are expected to participate in professional development workshops
offered by the IB. You can request workshop
information and registration materials from IB North America at the coordinates listed
at the end of this FAQ.
How much does the IB Middle Years Programme cost?
IB Middle Years Programme schools pay an annual subscription fee to the IB
each September. Additional fees are dependent on the level of involvement
of the individual school. For example, schools that have its students’ work
moderated by the IB must pay a one-time moderation fee for each
student. Another important cost consideration in sustaining a healthy
IB Middle Years Programme is the need to providing ongoing professional
development for IB teachers.
Schools starting a IB Middle Years Programme must budget for a variety of
expenses including: the acquisition of resources needed at the school to
support the MYP, staff training for IB professional development, time for
faculty to write IB course curricula, the number of students to be enrolled
in the programme, promotional activities publicizing to families and
colleagues disseminating information about the programme and the school’s
intent to offer the programme, and the application fee itself.
Are there any funds available to assist schools in setting up or
defraying the costs of offering the IB Middle Years Programme?
Schools in the US are encouraged to contact their state department of
education to see if there are any special funds available for starting up or
sustaining a IB Middle Years Programme. Depending upon the placement of
the IB Middle Years Programme within the school’s general programme, some
special grants or title money might be available. Schools in Canada may
have to seek private sources of funding.
Are there schools offering the IB Middle Years Programme that we can
visit?
Yes, there are numerous schools throughout the North American and
Caribbean region that are authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Programme.
With sufficient advance notice, they are generally happy to host
representatives from interested schools. Interested schools are encouraged
to contact IB North America for guidance in selecting a school to visit.
How can my school find out more about the IB Middle Years
programme and becoming authorized?
Schools in Canada, the US, and the Caribbean are encouraged to contact the
North American regional office of the IB in New York (+1-212-696-4464) or
Vancouver (+1-604-733-8980, or toll free at +1-866-VAN-IBNA), or by email
at ibna@ibo.org.
For Parents and Students
- What is the Middle Years Programme?
- What grades does the Middle Years Programme encompass?
- Does the Middle Years Programme lead directly to the Diploma
Programme? - Can students transfer easily from one Middle Years Programme school to
another? - Can students with special needs participate in an IB programme?
- Do Middle Years Programme students have to take IB examinations?
- Do Middle Years Programme students receive any acknowledgement for
their work? - How can my child enroll in the Middle Years Programme?
- How can I get more information about the IB in North America?
What is the Middle Years Programme?
The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is an educational framework that
requires students to study in eight subjects (literature taught in the
student’s native language, foreign language, social studies, science, math,
arts, physical education, and technology) in each of the five years the
programme lasts. Local, state, provincial, or national curriculum
requirements are the basis of each subject's content. Teachers present their
curriculum focused through the MYP’s Areas of Interaction, so that
instructional strategies change, rather than the subject content. The model
embodies three fundamental concepts: communication (valuing language
acquisition in at least two languages), holistic learning (finding the
connections across and within the subjects and grade levels), and
internationalism (a growing understanding of a student’s own culture
coupled with an understanding and appreciation of other cultures).
What grades does the Middle Years Programme encompass?
In most schools in North America, the IB Middle Years Programme is a fiveyear
programme that begins with grade 6 and continues through grade 10.
In some schools, such as those in Qu��bec, the MYP begins with grade 7 and
continues through grade 11. The programme may be implemented in as
little as two consecutive grade levels following or preceding another IB
programme to as many as five grade levels. The decision for the length of
time of a MYP is determined by the local educational structures that exist.
Does the Middle Years Programme lead directly to the Diploma
Programme?
The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) is an excellent preparation for the
Diploma Programme. Many of the concepts, programme elements, and the
underlying philosophy found in the MYP are consistent with those found in
the Diploma Programme. Nevertheless, the MYP is not a prerequisite.
Indeed, schools and school districts may not offer both the MYP and Diploma
Programme.
Further, because schools and school districts establish their own enrollment
criteria for participating in the Diploma Programme, a student’s prior
involvement with the MYP is not a guarantee of entry into the Diploma
Programme.
Can students transfer easily from one Middle Years Programme
school to another?
In terms of continuity, certain aspects of the MYP, such as the areas of
interaction, assessment criteria, and the fundamental concepts of the
programme will be the same from school to school worldwide. However,
since the IB does not prescribe the content, the actual subject material
may vary.
Further, schools may begin their Middle Years Programmes at different
grade levels. In some states and provinces, the MYP begins in grade 6 and
goes through grade 10; in Qu��bec, for example, it begins in grade 7 and
goes through grade 11.
Can students with special needs participate in an IB programme?
Yes. The IB has established policies for accommodating students with
special needs. A publication detailing these policies is available on the IB
website. Schools are asked to notify the IB of participating students whom
they have identified as having special needs.
Do Middle Years Programme students have to take IB examinations?
There are no IB examinations in the Middle Years Programme. Instead,
classroom teachers design their own examinations, using a common set of
IB-designed assessment criteria to mark the examinations. The classroom
teachers’ marks are reviewed by a team of specially trained MYP teachers
from around the world to ensure that the assessment criteria are applied
equally to the work of all MYP students.
Do Middle Years Programme students receive any acknowledgement
for their work?
Depending upon the way the school has implemented its Middle Years
Programme, students who complete the programme may receive an IB
certificate of achievement. While the certificate is not considered a
diploma or a school-leaving certificate, it is evidence of a student’s good
preparation for further studies, such as the IB Diploma or other rigorous
programmes. It represents significant achievement and takes into account
academic as well as non-academic aspects, such as community service and
the creation of a personal project.
How can my child enroll in the Middle Years Programme?
Only those students enrolled in and attending IB-authorized schools are
permitted to participate in the Middle Years Programme. Beyond that, the
IB permits each school to establish its own student enrollment policies.
Therefore, we encourage you to contact your school’s IB MYP coordinator to
learn how to enroll your child.
How can I get more information about IB in North America?
For additional information, or if you have any suggestions or comments
about the questions and answers that appear here, please contact the IBNA
office in New York (+1-212-696-4464) or Vancouver (+1-604-733-8980, or toll
free at +1-866-VAN-IBNA), or by email at ibna@ibo.org.
