COEUR D'ALENE -- From public protests to community meetings, dozens of parents with students in the Coeur d'Alene School District are speaking out against the International Baccalaureate program.

There are two camps on the program: Critics are opposed to spending money on a program promoting global education while supporters say it's about broadening students minds.

Emily Minter's family moved their son to Hayden Meadows Elementary School in November. Several generations have attended the school and Emily is thrilled that her son is even learning Spanish.

“I think it's an excellent idea, in today's world, they have to have something and they have to take it in high school. Why not start them out early," Emily said.

Starting next year, the elementary school will be accredited as an international baccalaureate primary year program. The program's website says it strives to develop intercultural understanding and respect among young students.

That doesn’t sit well with everyone however.

"They are trying to teach what they call universal global citizen values. This is straight from the UN, from the international baccalaureate organization and that's controversial to us,” program critic Duncan Koler said.

Critics like Koler call the program a waste of taxpayer money while other parents go a step further and call it anti-American and socialist.

“To be attacked and be told that you're pushing a communist agenda and an anti-American agenda just isn't so,” Coeur d’Alene School District Superintendent Hazel Bauman said.

Koler and other parents say the school district won't listen to their concerns and that the $1.3 Million spent on the program so far could be used elsewhere.

“They brought in very controversial, very expensive program without parental input,” Koler said.

The district maintains parents do in fact have a choice.

“The parents are really very supportive of it. They want IB … at those schools and certainly if they don't because it's a school of choice they absolutely don't have to enroll their child at that school," Bauman said.

A meeting is scheduled for Monday night at 5 p.m. at Lake City High School where the district will have a presentation on its school choice program.