It's quite possible that the headline on this story might be amended to say, "...In order to reduce costs..."

Take International baccalaureate program: 

"...Pamela Gough, a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustee. "It's substantially more expensive to run [than the regular curriculum]." The TDSB doesn't charge the 700 students enrolled in its six IB programs."  (Source: Canadian Living, Sept 3 2014)

But, I take issue with MK199's assertion that "...eliminating these programs will undoubtedly be lower student achievement." Undoubtedly? The only thing we might know for sure is that eliminating programs would lower student OPPORTUNITY.  That's all.