Developing Young Minds Toward Entrepeneurship

Developing Young Minds towards Independent Entrepreneurship:

An Integrative Data Driven Needs Assessment

St. John Fisher College GEDL 563

Barbara Lattimore-Walker

Dr. John Travers

Dr. Diane Reed

March 2, 2009

Table of Contents

Introduction and overview ………………………………………………………..3

Demographics ………………………………………………………..6

Perceptions ………………………………………………………..8

References ………………………………………………………..11

Appendices ………………………………………………………..12

Introduction and Overview

In a time of extreme school accountability that seems mainly focused on standardized test results, have we begun to lose focus on what is most important? The welfare of our students and the quality of their education are what drive successful educators and forces them to constantly question their own practices and find new, different, and better ways to deliver instruction to their students. Due to federal and state mandated standardized tests, schools find themselves under extreme pressure to meet required student performance levels. Due to these performance standards, many schools have begun a practice of "teaching to the test". But does this new method of teaching have an undesired effect? Are students happy in their schools and how they are being taught? Do they feel safe in the schools where most of the administration and money is focused on passing state tests when more time could be devoted to extracurricular activities and other positive student programs? While there will forever be a debate about how to make schools accountable, few could argue that the focus of education is the development of happy, safe, and intelligent members of our society.

Race and Hispanic Origin Population Density of the...

Race and Hispanic Origin Population Density of the...

Students in military formation at Calhoun Colored ...

How can we find out if the students are satisfied in their own schools?

According to Alan Jones, "a test score, or a set of test scores, really tells a teacher only about 3% of what goes on in a classroom; the remaining 97% of why or how learning takes place can only be found in the daily interactions between the teacher and...