October 19, 2007

Evergreen SchoolScene

Local teen wins National Youth Business Plan competition
Entrepreneur Warda Ali,15, won the top prize in New York, NY at the 2nd annual Smith Barney/NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Prevailing over 30 competitors, Ali brings home $10,000 in cash prizes for investment in her business or education. The students in the Challenge represented the top 31 competitors out of 21,000 students participating nationally.

Ali, a sophomore at Silver Creek High School, looked to her love of playing and watching cricket for her business plan. She devised a business plan for an online retail company selling customized cricket bats. Ali then built a partnership with her uncle in Pakistan in order to manage manufacturing and importation.

“Warda is truly a rising star and a great example of what young people can deliver when given the skills and training,” said Gerald Richards, Executive Director, National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship Bay Area region. “Seeing young people take ownership of their education, strive to develop their skills and then flourish is what NFTE sets out to do,” said Richards.

When she was just 14, Ali learned the fundamentals of business during her freshman year through a partnership between Silver Creek High School and the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). She then went on to win her classroom and the Merrill Lynch/NFTE Bay Area Regional Business Plan Competition – winning first place in both.

Governor Schwarzenegger signs Legislation to help students pass exit exam

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law intended to give a major boost to students who continue to try to pass the California High School Exit Exam after they complete the 12th grade.

The exit exam tests math and English language skills, and the Class of 2006 was the first graduating class required to pass it in order to receive diplomas. 

The bill, AB 347, offers exit exam remediation and counseling services targeting students who do not pass the exam by the end of high school.  The new law provides access to two additional years of exit exam remediation following the 12th grade for students in districts accepting the funding.  This is a critical extension for those students still in need of instruction in the test materials.  For English Learner students, the remediation should include further instruction in English language proficiency.  Students at risk of not passing by the end of high school are to be provided individual counseling about the exam and their options for further remediation.

About 34,000 students from the Class of 2006 and 29,000 students from the Class of 2007 still have not passed the exit exam. Another 61,000 students in the Class of 2008 have started their senior year without having passed the English portion of the exam; 56,000 have not yet passed the math section.

A toll-free number, 1-866-234-4503, has been set up for students and parents to request information about remediation services available in their districts.

Free Symphony concerts for schools 

Symphony Silicon Valley performs free concerts to grades four through six in January and March. Signups are happening now. Contact Jennifer Watkins at 408.286.2600 or jwatkins@symphonysiliconvalley.org for information.