How do schools ensure more students graduate from high school and go on to college? School districts usually hire pricey consultants or consult high powered policy makers to figure out how to solve education's challenges, but the United States Department of Education’s new National Education Startup Challenge hopes to get some innovative and entrepreneurial help from a previously untapped resource, the student’s themselves.
It's a smart idea to tap the expertise of the people who know their peers the best. Indeed, the challenge is looking for both nonprofit and for-profit startup ideas from middle and high school students that address four key areas: helping middle schoolers successfully transition to high school and graduate; helping students develop skills for success in college; helping students "choose affordable colleges that best suit student needs, consistent with their education and career goals; and increasing "the likelihood students complete their college degrees on time or early."
In order to participate, students have to choose which of the four areas they want to address through an innovative strategy, product, or service. They must then submit a business plan and one minute video clip of their startup idea. Submissions are due May 1 and will be judged by a panel of prominent educators and entrepreneurs. The winners will be announced June 1 and will be recognized by officials from both the White House and ED.
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