In-School Community Programs

Bringing the Business Week Program into high schools lets us take a community-oriented approach to our program. Whereas our summer programs bring people together from all over the state, our In-School Programs are strengthening entire communities. In regional programs, students who are cross-town rivals have to learn how to come together as a team.

Each In-School program involves about 30 community leaders and business volunteers during the school day for an entire week. They work side by side with educators to organize and deliver the Business Week Program. An additional 40-70 volunteer judges act as “Investors” for the Trade Show and Stockholder presentations. This creates a more direct link between business and education – connecting local industry with the community’s future workforce. By forming a strong partnership between the schools and local business community, we are able to build broad, community-based support for the program.

Each student “Company” (10-15 students) is guided by a volunteer from the local business community as they learn how to run a business, explore career options, make ethical and financial decisions, and compete for investors. Students attend the program free of cost which enables many to participate who might not otherwise be able to. This program has become a staple for schools like Aberdeen High School, which made Business Week a graduation requirement for all students.