[ By RAY HEMMAN ]
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson High School and the Career and Technical Education Academy have been 
approved as an International Baccalaureate Career-related Certificate school for medical sciences.
HHS is the first school in Kansas to get the IBCC status. The approval is good news for HHS students. “Having the IBCC authorization at HHS now allows the career and technical education-track students the opportunity to also take IB diploma courses that will enhance their certificates, making them better prepared for the work force and/or college,” Todd Ray, USD 308 IB Coordinator, said.
HHS has been an International Baccalaureate school for a decade, graduating its first full diploma students in 2006. IB is an academically rich and challenging curriculum. HHS students have the opportunity to take a portion or the entire curriculum. An IB diploma is accepted worldwide as evidence of educational excellence.
The IB Career-related Certificate prepares students to follow their chosen pathways in life.
The IBCC enables students to
• Consider new perspectives,
• Engage in learning that makes a positive difference,
• Develop a combination of academic and practical skills,
• Think critically/creatively in rapidly changing and global workplaces,
• Communicate effectively,
• Work both independently and collaboratively,
• And become self-confident individuals who are resilient and flexible.
The IBCC framework includes Diploma Programme courses, career-related studies and IBCC core classes.
Ray said that while HHS is starting with the medical sciences, staff anticipates being able to expand into many other areas in 2015-16.