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Sixth
Grade Business/Education Partnership
The
Sixth Grade Business/Education Partnership introduces students
to the world of work by coordinating the adoption of every
sixth grade class in McLean County by a business partner of
the McLean County Community Compact. Over 2200 students in
sixty four sixth grade classrooms are offered this opportunity.
The program is now entering its fifteenth year.
In
the classroom, each business emphasizes hands-on activities,
career opportunities within the business, and training necessary
to succeed in that business and other businesses. Each Sixth
Grade Business/Education Partnership is established by an
initial meeting with the business, the school principal, and
teacher(s). Five to six class meetings are set up at that
time to describe in detail to the students how they would
apply the education they are now receiving to a job with this
business. Different elements of the business are explored
such as hiring procedures, advertising, production, management,
financial needs, responsibilities, and teamwork.
Students
are exposed to real world applications of their work in the
classroom. Students are shown the specific career path leading
to their area of expressed interest within the business. Thus,
they have a much better understanding of why a solid educational
background is important to all employees entering the labor
force in the future at any level of employment.
It is the goal of the Sixth Grade Business/Education Partnership
Committee to make this learning opportunity fun for the teachers,
students, administrators, and employees who participate. The
business leaves the school with the entire group of participants
more informed regarding their particular business and knowledge
of employment expectations for the workers within it.
During
2004-2005, ninety percent of the McLean County sixth grade
students took part in the program. A comprehensive evaluation
process has been established by the committee to serve as
a measuring device, which enables the Compact staff and members
to study the effectiveness of the program. Evaluation results
are also shared with business partners to assist them in future
planning.
The
Sixth Grade Business/Education Partnership has received a
unanimous endorsement from this group for the manner in which
it addresses the reality created for students regarding their
potential place in the world of work and the opportunities
available to them. Administrators also welcome the opportunities
their staff members have to become exposed to the businesses
in the community and the knowledge of types of skills necessary
for employment in those businesses. When asked to rate the
value of the program to their students and staff 95% of the
administrators rated the partnership "Excellent," with 4%
rating it as "Good."
Approximately
97% of the teachers considered the program highly effective
in its structure, purpose and achieved results. The educators
stated a continued need for life long learning after the completion
of formal schooling.
The
students were given the opportunity to grade the Sixth Grade
Business Partnership experiences they had by giving it a grade
of A, B, C, D, or F. Ninety-eight percent of the students
responding graded their programs above the average with over
eighty percent of those in the A - B range. The students made
special note of their appreciation of the time spent with
them by business partners. Students also appreciated learning
about all facets of the business.
Several
business representatives noted this program was an excellent
way to "give back" to the community while helping within the
classroom at the same time. Business volunteers noted the
importance of allowing 6th graders to experience a small bit
of the "real world" and become aware of the appropriate workplace
skills simultaneously.
The
Sixth Grade Business Partnership is one of the most comprehensive
programs of the McLean County Community Compact. This program
uses hundreds of volunteers to reach over 2,500 students and
makes a positive contribution to the career planning and career
awareness efforts undertaken with these students. The Sixth
Grade Business/Education Partnership was one of the original
concepts of the McLean County Community Compact and today
remains one of the most recognized programs of the Compact.
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