Local Elementary School Gets International Honors

Ben Franklin Elementary School in La Quinta has been authorized by an international organization to provide its students with a new curriculum.

The International Baccalaureate Programme based in Geneva, Switzerland, offers students around the world with a framework for learning and cultural acceptance and understanding.

According to the organzation, “These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”

Franklin Elementary School’s application was submitted in 2005 by founding principal Matt Bugg (former principal of La Quinta High School).

School officials say his vision was to expand the International Baccalaureate World School Program within the Desert Sands Unified School District. The application process consisted of extensive teacher training, curriculum development and a series of visitations by international representatives of the I.B to accredit the program?s development at Franklin.

This week Franklin was also awarded California Distinguished School honors, they attribute much of their success to the implementation of the IB Program.