IB Policies and Practices

Essential Policies: Framing Our Learning Community

At H. Clarke Powers, learning is grounded in the philosophy of the IB, which aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help create a better, more peaceful world.  Across both our Primary Years Program (PYP) and Middle Years Program (MYP), learning and teaching are guided by standard policies that uphold our shared educational values, promote international-mindedness, and foster a supportive learning environment.

The IB framework mandates five essential policies that guide our operational and pedagogical decisions:

• Academic Integrity Policy: Fosters a culture of honesty, ethical decision-making, and personal responsibility.  It teaches students to honor original authorship, practice fair collaboration, and take pride in authentic work as principled learners.
• Admission/Access Policy: Establishes clear conditions for participation in our programs, ensuring our curriculum remains open, transparent, and equitable to our school community.
• Assessment Policy: Outlines how we measure, record, and report student progress using transparent criteria.  It bridges classroom inquiry and learning with meaningful feedback, supporting continuous growth.
• Inclusion Policy: Defines how we remove barriers to learning and differentiate insturction to meet diverse learning profiles.  It ensures every student receives equitable access to the curriculum and the support needed to thrive.
• Language Policy: Recognizes language as central to identity and cognitive growth.  It provides a framework for supporting home languages, building proficiency int he language of instruction, and cultivating intercultural understanding through multilingualism.

Together these policies serve as working documents that bring the IB Learner Profile to life across both the PYP and MYP.  They ensure consistency, equity, and a shared vision across our entire learning continuum.

Links to Updated Policies: