After over two years of planning, training, and dedication, Lone Star Language Academy is pleased to announce that it is now an authorized International Baccalaureate World Schools implementing the Primary Years Programme (IB PYP).
This marks a huge milestone for the young charter school, which was founded in 2017, and coincides appropriately with the school’s official name change. As of July 1st, the school will be known as Imagine Lone Star International Academy (ILSIA).
Part of the Imagine Schools family of charter schools, ILSIA is the second Imagine School to hold the IB World School authorization. As of June 2023, there are over 2,200 IB schools in 159 countries offering the PYP, and ILSIA is one of only 18 authorized charter schools in Texas to hold the designation.
PYP authorized schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that inspires students to become culturally-fluent, innovative young leaders. “This aligns perfectly with our mission,” said Dr. Julia Brady, Central Administration Officer for the school. “We are committed to providing our students with an innovative inquiry-based learning experience that fosters critical thinking skills, language acquisition, and intercultural competence.”
Achieving IB authorization is an extremely rigorous and lengthy process. Schools must complete an extensive application process, and prepare for an onsite authorization visit, similar to an audit, from an IB-certified team. During the process, schools are responsible for training teachers to understand the program and implement the framework. Typically, the average school takes about three years to become authorized.
“Our teachers and support staff have worked extremely hard to achieve this honor,” said Jill Dinges, PYP Director at the school. “All their hard work has paid off and will ultimately benefit our students, parents, and the entire north Texas community as we prepare our students to become engaged, caring, lifelong global learners.”
About Imagine Lone Star International Academy
Imagine Lone Star International Academy is a public tuition-free charter school serving students in grades K-5 in Plano, Texas. The school began operating in the fall of 2017 as Lone Star Language Academy and provides an innovative inquiry-based learning experience that fosters critical thinking skills, language acquisition, and intercultural competence. It is still accepting applications for 2023-2024 school year. To learn more, visit https://www.lonestartx.org.
About the International Baccalaureate:
The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end, the IBO works with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.