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NebraskaEDGE®

Host a Youth Course

Why should we teach youth entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship is more than just learning about business, it is an experience that brings real world application into the classroom. Entrepreneurial education may be crucial to the success of Nebraska's rural schools and community. Reasons to offer entrepreneurship education:

  • Let's students know that starting and operating a business is a viable career option.
  • Provides students with marketable skills while still in high school.
  • Reinforces basic skills in math, reading, communication as the student gains and uses their entrepreneurial skills.
  • Increases student's financial literacy.
  • Provides a bridge between school and real world experiences
  • Increase business skills to become better employees
  • Gallop Poll found that 69% of high school students were interested in starting their own business and 85% wanted their schools to teach them how to do it.
         source: Entrepreneurship Education: Opportunity in Search of Curriculum by Marilyn L. Kourilsky

The NebraskaEDGE is proud to partner with Nebraska high school teachers to provide youth entrepreneurship as a viable career option. You too can be involved in this growing area of youth education.

What is the NebraskaEDGE?

The NebraskaEDGE represents Business, Government, and Education working together to seek opportunities for Nebraska citizens and communities. The University of Nebraska Center for Applied Rural Innovation serves as the coordinator for the program. However, the key to the NebraskaEDGE's success is a statewide network of public/private partners working together in their local schools and communities.

How can a teacher become involved?

The NebraskaEDGE provides support and technical training for teachers interested in teaching youth entrepreneurship.  This is an emerging area in Nebraska and we are all learning together!  Through e-mail interaction, The EDGE works directly with a growing number of teachers, gaining feedback and shared intellectual resources.  To become involved, contact Marilyn Schlake or Tonia Franklin for assistance.

What is the cost to the school to participate in the EDGE program?

The EDGE program is exploring different curriculums and resources for use by Nebraska's teachers.  Costs will vary between materials and teacher training requirements.

Current costs for the Buzz on Biz training program are $75 for instructor's manual and $65 for student books, includes shipping costs.  Student materials may be re-used.  New, clean worksheets can be downloaded from the NxLevel or NebraskaEDGE website. Students will be need to supply a 3-ring, front view binder to hold the materials.

Additional costs may include teacher training on entrepreneurial education.  The NebraskaEDGE program is developing a one-day training to assist teachers in basic entrepreneur and business concepts.  The training may evolved into an on-line certification training course.  This will depend on available development funds.

How can I get more information?

For more information contact:

Marilyn Schlake, Extension Educator
University of Nebraska Extension
Department of Agricultural Economics
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
103D Miller Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0711
Telephone: 402.472.4138/800.328.2851
Fax: 402.472.0688