More than 700 teachers from 38 schools in Houston ISD and surrounding districts got together at Lamar High School on Aug. 7-8 for International Baccalaureate training.

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The districts collaborated on this training because it is cost effective. Workshop leaders came from across the U.S., Canada and Mexico to share their knowledge and experience.

Houston ISD has 14 IB schools: Durham, Harvard, Northline, River Oaks, Roberts, School at St. George Place, and Twain elementary schools; Lanier, Fondren, Hogg and Grady middle schools; and Lamar, Bellaire, and Reagan high schools.

To achieve IB authorization, schools must complete two extensive applications and prepare for an onsite authorization visit from an IB-certified team. During the audit process, schools are responsible for training teachers on the International Baccalaureate Program and framework. The authorization process has many steps, including classroom observations by authorizers, reviews of the school’s curriculum, and interviews of faculty, students, parents, the school’s Board of Education representative, and administrators.

Other HISD schools in the IB authorization review process are: Briargrove, Briarmeadow Charter, Herrera, Poe, Rodriguez, Rusk, and Wharton.