Aim high, Cd'A schools

The debate in Coeur d'Alene schools over programs for its highest-achieving students is much more than a dispute highlighting philosophical and political differences among patrons. And while a cost-benefit analysis is important, it's not the only big consideration. How the school district proceeds with or without these programs will say much about how the district defines itself moving forward in increasingly competitive times.

By offering the International Baccalaureate program at Lake City High School and Advanced Placement classes at Coeur d'Alene High School, District 271 is attempting to meet critical goals. First, it is offering challenging curricula for its best and brightest students. In an age when the lowest common denominator seems to dictate many educational directives, it's refreshing when districts push their highest achievers without abdicating responsibility for the lowest. We say "refreshing," but it might be more than that. It could be a matter of survival.

Second, while some patrons clamor for a return to "just the basics," others believe public schools must specialize more to compete against private schools and the proliferation of charter schools. We're ardent advocates for choice in public education, which is why we support the array of offerings from charter and magnet schools. But we also recognize that our school districts have a constitutional mandate to educate the masses, and that one size will not fit all - particularly when families have so many choices. That means survival is dependent upon schools' ability to compete for students at every level of the competence spectrum.

We believe IB has been an important option for ambitious students, but we agree with critics that the program should be scrutinized to ensure its delivery and results are meeting expectations. If those expectations are not being met, that doesn't necessarily merit flushing the program down the educational toilet. Enough students and parents have raved about IB classes that the district should be compelled to figure out how the program could be improved before it seriously considers dropping it.

Several educational agendas are at work in our community, some spurred by religious beliefs, some by politics and some by customers who aren't always satisfied with the quality of products being delivered. The first two groups deserve to be ignored. The last should be highly valued. If it is, Coeur d'Alene School District will only be stronger with increasingly effective offerings for its highest achievers.