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October 12, 2018








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Advantages of the Young Entrepreneurs 
Consortium (YEC)

"Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."  - Warren Buffet

Awarded in July 2014 to a consortium of 15 districts [1] for $13.6 million, the YEC Straight A grant's goals include increasing student engagement and success, as well as providing a strong foundation for future entrepreneurship for a long-term goal of creating more jobs in Stark County. In 2017-18, the YEC met many of its original goals.

The fourth year report (2017-18) shows many successes. Since 2014, YEC districts have seen a 247% increase in College Credit Plus (CCP) classes completed with a C or better. When asked, students responded that taking courses in CCP "helped me decide on a career" and was "more challenging and taught me how to think."

To increase student engagement and success, teachers were trained in Problem Based Learning (PBL) - where students learn by doing. Student experiences in PBL were recorded at 15,896 for the span of 2015 to 2018. While this does not count the number of students participating in PBL, it does show the extent of hands-on learning for students in YEC districts. Through teachers' submissions of new PBL project units, the consortium reached 223 PBL units completed. This brings the consortium 74.3% of the way to reaching the 300 PBL units required by the YEC grant. With a total of 399 trained teachers (97 in the most recent school year), the consortium surpassed the grant goal of 300.
 
Bolstering the capacity of districts to provide quality CCP experiences to students as well as to improve cost sharing, high school teachers were encouraged to become credentialed for teaching college courses in a particular area, such as Business, English, and Math through programs at the University of Akron and Kent State University. As of June 30, 2018, the consortium was 97% of the way to reaching the grant goal of 35 credentialed teachers in YEC districts.

As demonstrated over the last four years, several seeds have been planted in the 15 districts through problem-based learning, work-centered learning, teacher credentialing and access to college courses. Each aspect continues to provide opportunities for teachers and students from these districts to develop skills and engage in learning so that multiple seeds can grow.


[1] Brown-Malvern, Carrollton, Green-Smithville, Green-Summit, Marietta, Massillon, Mid-East Career and Technology Centers, Minerva, Orrville, Osnaburg, R. G. Drage Career Technical Center, Rittman, Sandy Valley, Southeast Local and Wayne County Schools Career Center (WCSCC).
About the Partnership Long Header
The Stark Education Partnership - a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Stark County, Ohio -   is a catalyst, engaging and collaborating with education, business, civic and community stakeholders to drive sustainable improvement and innovation to provide all students with education and career success.   

 
Questions or comments? Email septpurses@gmail.com or call 330-452-0829. Visit our website at http://www.edpartner.org