LOXLEY — Baldwin County officials announced Friday the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Baldwin County Schools.

DP is a two-year program designed as an academically challenging and balanced program of education with final examinations that prepares students for success at university and life beyond, according to information supplied at the press conference.

“The program has gained respect from the world’s leading universities since its conception,” according to the press release.

Baldwin County School Superintendent Faron Hollinger said the program will put the county’s school programs in line with other world-class programs.

“I have traveled extensively and looked at other world-class education programs,” he said. “Committing to this curriculum will put us in line with other world-class programs.

There will be a county-wide meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 at the Loxley satellite school board office for interested parents and students.

The IB program is an elective program similar to the Advanced Placement programs already being used in Baldwin County schools.

It includes a preparatory program for ninth and 10th grades which includes:

Ninth grade: Advanced English 9; Spanish 1; Advanced World History; Advanced Biology; Geometry; Leadership; PE/Band/ROTC/Athletics; Elective/Algebra 1.

Tenth grade: Advanced English 10; Spanish II; AP European History; Chemistry; Algebra II/Trigonometry; Health/Driver’s Ed; Elective/Fine Art; Elective.

For grades 11 and 12, the program includes extended essay, theory of knowledge, creativity, action and service for language, individuals and societies, mathematics and computer science and experimental sciences.

Requirements of the DP include:

— Students are required to do 150 of CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) over the two years.

— Students are required to do an extended essay (4,000 word maximum) on a subject of their choice.

— Students are required to take a course titled Theory of Knowledge.

As of December 2007, 1,628 schools in 125 countries offer the IB Diploma Program, including 564 in the United States and 118 in Canada.

The process for becoming an IB World School began four years ago in Baldwin County where information was gathered from established IB schools inside and outside of Alabama and from consultants associated with IB.

Two years ago Daphne and Fairhope High Schools expressed interest in pursuing the Diploma Programme when asked by the county. After IB school visits by faculty from both schools, the county approved both schools to proceed with application in the Spring of 2006.

From August 2006 to May 2007, each school worked on and completed a 300-plus page application.

In Fall 2007, each school was visited by a team from IB to judge the ability of each school to successfully implement the Diploma Programme.

Both communities have overwhelmingly supported the pursuit of this program through the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation (FEEF) and Support Education Enrichment in Daphne Schools (SEEDS); parent and student interest and support evident in the large number of applications for the program at both schools and a dedicated group of faculty at each school willing to work hard on the application and on course design as well as the support of the entire faculties at each school.

“We cannot express enough our appreciation to these two groups and to the teachers, administrators and students at these two schools,” Hollinger said. “This is a prime example of what can be accomplished when people work together.”

With authorization, the Baldwin County Board of Education foresees an increase in the already impressive number of applications for the program. In addition, there is already an interest in each community for the development of the Middle Years and Primary Years Programmes available from IB.

According to the IP Diploma Program Flyer, “Life in the 21st century, in an interconnected globalized world, requires critical thinking skills and a sense of international-mindedness, something that International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme students learn to know and understand.

“This program will give Baldwin County students the aforementioned skills necessary to compete in an increasingly competitive college admissions environment,” according to the information provided at the press conference. “Once they are in college, they will have the time management skills needed for success in college and in the future workplace.”

Baldwin County School Board President Bob Callahan also expressed thanks to the two schools and support organizations and said the Board is committed to suppling Baldwin County schools with the latest advancements in education.

“We are driven to bring world-class educational tools such as these to Baldwin County,” he said. “We will continue to press forward and we will not rest until that goal is accomplished.”