Our History

Origins

The California International Baccalaureate Organization (CIBO), now known as the California Association of IB World Schools (CAWS,) had its roots in an informal conversation in Washington D.C. in 1989. The coordinators from several California schools, in attendance at a World Conference of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB), foresaw the need for an organization that could promote the cause of the IB within California, as well as serve as a communications link among schools with similar needs.

Focus

The group immediately began work in two important areas. The first was to have IB test scores receive the same coverage in the press as did the AP scores. Two years later, they were placed on the state's "Report Card" for the first time. The second focus was in the area of university recognition, particularly the University of California system. Although considerable gains were made from year to year, CIBO's efforts were finally realized in 1999 when the question was placed on the UC application, "Are you an International Baccalaureate Full Diploma candidate?" Currently students receiving the International Baccalaureate Diploma with 30 points receive 30 quarter or 20 semester units from the University of California.

Organization

Their original vision of becoming an organization became a reality when the first constitution was actually drawn and ratified and the first officers elected in 1991. Jerry Chris, from Mission Viejo High School, became the first president at the initial CIBO meeting held in Irvine. Since that time, ten others have assumed the office of the president: Pat Prather from Rancho Buena Vista High School, Edi Nayer from Franklin High School, Pat Nuezel from Mira Loma High School, Dana Victorson from Laguna Hills High School, Sandra Schwarer from San Jose High Academy, Marcine Solarez from Newbury Park High School, Steve Rockenbach from David Starr Jordan High School, Diana Cinatl from La Quinta High School, Robin Oliver from Sonora High School, David Crawford from Scotts Valley High School and our current president, Michael Winsatt from Andrew P. Hill High School. In 2008 the organization signed a Cooperation and License agreement with the International Baccalaureate Organization in part controlling the use by Associations of any IB trademark that includes the name of the IB Organization, or the acronym "IB". Thus came the need to change the original name from "California International Baccalaureate Organization" (CIBO) to “The California Association of IB World Schools” (CAWS).

Legislation

One of CIBO's greatest accomplishments to date has been the passage of AB2363 through the efforts of the Legislative Committee, headed by Ed Marquez, former principal at Mira Loma High School. Under the sponsorship of Assemblyman Mike Honda of San Jose, and with the assistance of educational lobbyist Peter Birdsall, the bill became law in 1998. AB2363 provided $25,000 per year for all CIBO diploma schools, to be used specifically for teacher training. AB842, passed in 2001, provided funding for Middle Year Schools establishing an IB Middle Years Programme. These grants along with other categorical funding were cut from the budget. Today funds to IB can be funded as a part of LCAP Plans, Title 1 and ESSA - Title IV funding.

The Association continues to promote actively the value of the International Baccalaureate Programme to state legislators and to lobby for state funds to support the IB schools in California.