International Baccalaureate Career-related Program (IBCP)
Welcome to the IB CP at the York County School of Technology. As an authorized IB World School, we are excited to offer the Career-related Programme (CP) to students in grades 11 and 12. This exciting opportunity is one that will prepare students for both post-secondary education and the work force, further solidifying our commitment of creating students who are college and career ready.
York Tech was accredited as an IB World School August of 2018. Our first CP cohort that year consisted of ten students. In just one year, the number of students nearly doubled when our second cohort was established and included 17 student from 8 different technical programs. Our hope is to continue to grow the CP and provide rigorous academic coursework combined with authentic research and a variety of applicable skills for the 21st Century learner.
As you may know, York Tech offers twenty-six technical programs where students can earn a variety of industry-related certifications. This webpage will provide a variety of important information regarding the CP program its’ requirements. When discussing technical subject areas, we will follow IB convention and use the term “Career-related Study (CRS)”, which is just one of the required components of the CP. We will also refer often to the “Core”, which is a series of four required components (Service Learning, Language Development, Reflective Project, and Personal Professional Skills), which is a second requirement of the CP. Lastly, we will provide information on the IB Courses (academic offerings), of which students are required to take two courses, one must be over two years.
YCST Mission Statement
The York County School of Technology is dedicated to providing high quality, dynamic academic and technical education for students, emphasizing professional skills while fostering the development of compassionate, lifelong learners who appreciate unique differences of other individuals and cultures.
YCST Spartan Values
PROFESSIONALISM - EMPATHY - INNOVATION - OPTIMISM - INTEGRITY - PERSEVERANCE
International Baccalaureate Mission Statement
The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
IB Learner Profile
The IB Learner Profile is the foundation of the IB Programme. Students should strive to develop and exhibit each attribute of the IB Learner Profile. We hope that you encourage others to demonstrate these same attributes.
To learn more visit:
https://www.ibo.org/benefits/learner-profile/
Rationale
With so many opportunities available to students, one may ask:
Why does York Tech offer the IB CP Programme?
Simply put, we are aiming to prepare all students for the increased demands of universities/colleges and employers, by producing internationally minded young adults. In order for the U.S. to thrive in the 21st Century global economy, graduating students must be able to embrace unknown challenges, solve complex problems, work collaboratively, and have significant subject knowledge to accompany technical skills learned. The CP prepares students for all facets of life beyond high school using a rigorous and comprehensive approach.
Traditionally, students enrolled at York Tech participate in four years of a technical program, and have the option to select standard and advanced level coursework (Honors, AP, Dual Enrollment etc.) While those options still exist, we believe that the comprehensive nature of the IB Career-related Programme provides a greater breadth and flexibility that York Tech students want and will develop qualities that colleges/universities and employers need.
In a (global) multicultural society, it is essential that students are prepared for employment (directly or after university/college), develop a good understanding of world issues and contexts, and have an understanding of their responsibilities as global citizens. The CP prepares students for flexibility and mobility in a range of employment opportunities as well as for lifelong learning.
The CP’s flexible educational framework allows schools to meet the needs, backgrounds and contexts of students. Because each IB World School creates its own distinctive version of the CP, the program can be adjusted to fit the needs of the students and the school community. At York Tech, we have undertaken extensive consultation, training, and collaboration efforts in order to provide a program that will meet the needs of a broad spectrum of students, and will positively affect the school climate and culture.
CP graduates are academically prepared for success at competitive universities around the world and are ready to combine further studies with apprenticeships, internships or employment. A recent study examined higher education enrollment, destinations and persistence of all CP graduates from the U.S. between 2013 and 2015. The study found that four out of five (81%) CP graduates enrolled in a university some time after secondary school. Of those, 79% chose four-year institutions over two-year colleges. These students also tended to major in high-earning, career-oriented fields including engineering, business, and health sciences.
The CP consists of academic and technical courses, supported by the Core. It is the Core, which will make the difference and will prepare learners for challenges and opportunities during their post-secondary schooling and/or career.
Please visit the following links for details related to the IB Programme:
General Requirements
CP Core Descriptions
IB Course Descriptions