Experiences of Stakeholders Participating in an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in Southeast Georgia

Greer Elementary School is an authorized International Baccalaureate World School participating in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) in Southeast Georgia. In order to best understand stakeholder experiences with the IBPYP, this researcher conducted a qualitative study using anonymous surveys. By asking students, teachers, and parents about their experiences and perceptions of the IBPYP at Greer Elementary School, the researcher was able to gain knowledge about the IBPYP as it relates to each stakeholder group. Schwab’s four commonplaces of student, teacher, subject matter and milieu situated this study in a consistent format (1969, 1973). The researcher concluded that student, teacher, and parent experiences in participating in the IBPYP are specific to three major themes. The three themes identified are expectations in using the learner profiles and attitudes at home and at school, inquiry, and global citizenship. The learner profiles and attitudes are experienced by stakeholders through student and teacher actions in school and at home. Parents, teachers, and students experience inquiry as it is infused throughout the curriculum and planning of the IBPYP transdisciplinary themes. Global citizenship is experienced by stakeholders through the exposure of other cultures fostered by the IBPYP. The main negative associated with participating in the IBPYP is the time needed to plan for instruction and the time needed to incorporate district initiatives with the IBPYP philosophy. Overall, the results of this study add to the bodies of research on the IBPYP as three stakeholder groups shared experiences