In a significant development following extensive discussions, the Florida House and Senate have come to a consensus to provide complete funding for advanced education initiatives, encompassing Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and AICE courses.
The announcement brings a sense of comfort to students and educators throughout Florida, where over 90 schools provide IB and comparable programs to around 16,000 students annually.
At Cypress Creek High School in Orange County, questions linger. In a surprising turn of events, the IB program at Cypress Creek faces uncertainty for the upcoming school year, even with the funding agreement in place. The district points to dwindling interest as the driving factor behind the decision to phase out IB in favor of the AICE curriculum. Students express frustration over being excluded from the decision-making process, challenging the district’s assertions.
“Pre-IB was taken out of our school before IB was taken out, which means that students were not put in classes that are meant to prepare them for the IB program,” said Zoey Salah, a current Cypress Creek student. “This decision was already made before this, before we found out in May and before we could do anything about it.”
At the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center, a gathering of students, staff, and alumni voiced their concerns during a public comment session at the Orange County Commission Board Meeting on Tuesday, calling on district officials to rethink their decisions.
“I’m advocating for IB at Cypress Creek High School. Especially because of the opportunity you get to connect with other like-minded individuals academically. It really pushes you to do your best,” said Andres Rodriguez, a Cypress Creek IB alumnus.
The potential elimination of the IB program raises concerns, as the closest high school providing this option is located 20 miles away, creating accessibility challenges for numerous families in Cypress Creek.
Though both IB and AICE hold recognition among colleges across the country, IB is frequently perceived as providing greater opportunities, particularly for students aspiring to pursue higher education overseas.
“Especially those who are seeking higher education, like out of state or internationally, that is a huge loss of opportunity for them,” Rodriguez said. “Not just like, oh, this class is a college-level class, or you get college credit from it, you truly do some college-level research—it’s true prep in my opinion.”
Cypress Creek students and supporters are determined to advocate for a program they believe has the power to transform lives, as the district considers its choices.
