An IB coordinator for the Bay Shore Union Free School District updated the board on Oct. 22 on the IB program’s five-year evaluation and a planned IB career-related study that would begin recruiting for September 2026.

The coordinator said the five-year process requires a self study, policy reviews and community engagement; the self study will include questionnaires for parents and community members and focus groups with staff and students. She said part of the review is updating the district’s academic-integrity policy to address artificial intelligence and how students may appropriately interact with AI.

The coordinator shared statistics for recent diploma and certificate outcomes: "Last year, we had 24 diploma candidates. 20 of them earned the diploma," a reported 80 percent diploma completion rate; certificate (non-diploma) satisfactory achievement was reported at about 81 percent for students taking IB exams.

Kathleen, the career-program lead, presented the proposed career-related study pathways. "Our first two are going to be business management and entrepreneurship, and then health care industry and technology," she said. The district plans a formal partnership with Northwell Health to align two years of coursework with Northwell Next curriculum; Kathleen said Northwell Next will create separate pathways for business and health-care students and that completion will be visible to Northwell talent-acquisition staff when students apply for jobs.

Kathleen described the core course for the career-related study — a two-year personal and professional-skills course that also integrates required guided instruction for community engagement and language/cultural studies. The district completed an IB consultancy visit and will receive a report; a larger verification visit and an authorization application are next steps. Kathleen said the first cohort of students is expected to begin in September 2026 and recruitment will start at an upcoming IB information night.

Board members asked for clear, sample schedules and visuals for students and families to understand how a career-related pathway would differ from existing options. No formal board action was requested; the presentation signaled the district is moving through IB authorization steps.