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Idea Schools Get Grant For New Program

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 09:00 CST

By Daniel Perry, The Monitor, McAllen, Texas

Mar. 8--DONNA -- Students attending IDEA Public Schools are already challenged by longer school days, rigorous tutoring and Saturday classes.

But the work could be getting harder beginning this fall.

IDEA officials announced Monday the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a more than $2.6 million grant for staff development and implementation for the International Baccalaureate program set to begin at its three campuses in Brownsville, Donna and McAllen this fall. The money will be shared with Uplift Education, a nonprofit organization running charter schools in Dallas and Irving, which is expanding its IB program.

The nonprofit IB organization promoting the initiative began in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1968 and works with more than 1,700 schools in 122 countries guiding students in getting a more global-based education through critical thinking, community service and research. Students passing all their IB tests get special graduation diplomas, scholarships and admissions consideration from some universities.

"It's about students asking questions, critical thinking," said Rosemary Perlmeter, Uplift's executive director, who attended IDEA's mid-morning press conference.

The IDEA schools are undergoing the certification process now to offer IB programs. Tom Torkelson, founder and head of schools, said his campuses would be the first in Texas enabling students to do the initiative-geared work in all grades. The program is scheduled to start at the beginning of the 2006-07 academic year.

"It's very progressive education

that oftentimes students from

low incomes do not receive,"

Torkelson said.

IDEA students said they are looking forward to digging more into their academic subjects next year.

"It'll be much better for me, college, my resume" said Christopher Chapa, 15, a freshman from Mission attending the Donna campus. "I'll be better prepared than other freshmen in the (Rio Grande) Valley."

Ruby Bowie will be a member of IDEA's first graduation class in Donna next year. But, the 16-year-old junior from San Juan said she is already getting practice for handling detailed coursework by taking Advanced Placement English, History and Spanish.

"It's going to be a great experience," she said. "We are setting the footsteps for those behind us to follow."

The only IB program offered in the Rio Grande Valley is for juniors and seniors attending the McAllen school district's Lamar Academy on North 10th Street. Students can take courses and examinations in biology, chemistry, French and other subjects.

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Daniel Perry covers Edinburg, education and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4454. For this and other stories, visit www.themonitor.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Monitor, McAllen, Texas

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Monitor (McAllen, Texas)

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