Cost of the IB Programme is perhaps the most difficult information to acquire. We have done exhaustive research on the subject and without exception every school district that has purchased the programme has hidden information or otherwise blocked our efforts to obtain any definitive understanding of what this program costs. Parents in different states in the U.S. have attempted to obtain copies of an annual contract between their district and IBO. Every single one has been met with the same response, "There is no contract". The original Applications A & B are considered the only official "contract" between IB and a district, neither of which tell districts what IB will do for them, but rather what the districts must do for IB. Theoretically, without a binding contract, districts can cancel the program at any time, yet history has shown that once IB has made its way into a district, there is little chance of getting rid of it in less than 10 years. Business managers for districts will give you the annual fees, and perhaps the cost of IB exams (along with postage fees to send them to Wales to be scored)--this is only the tip of the iceberg. If you continue to push, you may get a training budget that rarely includes cost of substitutes, or travel expenses. Finally as you continue to dig you will uncover additional, ongoing and very expensive costs including the requirement to add staff, and materials, and extra classes to accommodate the IB requirement. In some cases, once programmes are established in a district, we have found that IB has mandated that entire school buildings be turned over to their program in order to retain their license. Additional costs including redistricting of non-IB students to other buildings are rarely factored into the IB budget. We have gathered here all the information you need to make a true and accurate assessment of the cost to run an IB programme. These documents will give you the financial picture. To understand the opportunity costs, academic costs and personal hardships which have resulted from the adoption of the IB programme, we invite you to read futher.
