Last October, Robin Amrine, mother of three and English learner support specialist for the Loomis Union School District, got the rare chance to look into her future. She visited several elementary schools on the east coast that model the International Baccalaureate program; a curriculum she may be sharing with her students this September.

"I thought this is exactly what I've always wanted to do," says Amrine. "It's the kind of education I want my children to have. Why can't every student have this education?"

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program (www.ibo.org) is an internationally acclaimed inquiry-based K-12 education that builds on student curiosities and offers a dynamic and rigorous curriculum, including math, science, social studies, foreign language and humanities.

There are more than 2,000 IB Schools worldwide, serving students in 125 countries.

Loomis Union School District Superintendent, Paul Johnson, has led a team of administrators, educators and parents to bring the IB model to South Placer County as a K-8 charter called Loomis Basin Charter School.

"The district is interested in founding a school that will have greater flexibility and new innovation," says Johnson. "We conducted charter research, looked at a number of different approaches and centered on the IB program. We sent two teams back to New York and New Jersey to look at the nation's finest IB schools. The IB curriculum is amazing."

Charter schools are independent, tuition-free public schools open to all students. South Placer County is home to six charter schools. Loomis Basin Charter School will operate under the authority of the Loomis Union School District once the district approves the formal charter petition, which Johnson predicts will happen by February.

While charter schools have the freedom to customize their instructional program, they must meet specific performance goals and are accountable for state requirements just like traditional public schools.

The mission of Loomis Basin Charter School is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, patriotic, honorable, responsible and caring youth with the background skills, knowledge and qualities necessary to find success in a changing and interrelated world.

"My biggest thought was this is how kids should be learning everywhere," says Cinnamon Johnsrud, fifth grade teacher at Franklin School in Loomis.

Johnsrud spent time observing IB learners as part of the district's research team.

"Every child knew what it means to be a responsible learner," she says. "Every student knew what it means to have integrity, to be honest. There was a tremendous difference in the attitudes of the kids and the learning that was happening."

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is an international education initiative based in Geneva, Switzerland. It consists of three distinct programs - the Diploma Program (11th and 12th grades), the Middle Years Program (for ages 11-16), and the Primary Years Program (for ages 3-12). Each IB program is concept driven, emphasizing structured inquiry and requires students to learn a second language. Johnson says Loomis Basin Charter will offer two foreign language programs to all grades: Spanish language instruction and a second foreign language to be determined by parents in a poll offered on the school's pre-registration form.

"An alliance group composed of parents and teachers is going to design the school plan," says Johnson. "The students will be taught the standards, but they will have additional opportunities above and beyond."

The IB Primary Years Program explores curriculum with themes like "Who We Are," "How We Express Ourselves" and "How We Share the Planet." At an IB elementary school in Yonkers, New York, Amrine was impressed with the children's level of understanding.

"California schools operate at the bottom of the pyramid," explains Amrine. "The IB method of instruction allows students to move into the highest tier of Bloom's Taxonomy, classification of levels of intellectual behavior important in learning. Bloom found that over 95 percent of the test questions students' encounter require them to think only at the lowest possible level. (IB) students are able to analyze, synthesize and evaluate their learning."

And while IB is highly academic, Johnson says Loomis Basin Charter School will not operate as a select program, as the nature of IB challenges all students and works to promote lifelong learning.

"This is a holistic program for all kids and it targets the whole child." says Johnson.

Pre-registration forms are available at the district office, 3290 Humphrey Road in Loomis, and Johnson expects a large turnout at the next IB Informational Forum to be held 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16 at the Blue Goose Fruit Shed in Loomis.

While a school site is yet to be determined, Johnson says his team is prepared to open a K-8 school in August, either at an independent site in Loomis or possibly at a shared campus with another Loomis elementary school.

Should applications exceed availability, the school will hold a lottery, but at this time the district is date-stamping applications and offering enrollment on a first-come, first serve basis.

For Amrine, next fall cannot come fast enough.

"To have the district and the superintendent behind us is just ideal," she says. "It's very exciting."