The Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School will purposefully partner with parents and the community to support student achievement, aspirations and social-emotional development. Sustaining and creating partnerships within the local, state and national business community is imperative for the success of this academy. Through these partnerships students will have the opportunities for increased career awareness, exploration and experience as well as establish meaningful connections between what students are learning in school and its application beyond the classroom. Babson College is ranked #1 in Entrepreneurship by the U.S. News and World Report, Heidi Neck, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College has written a letter in support of Virginia Beach City Public Schools pursuing an academy with a focus on entrepreneurship and business. In her letter Heidi states, “Entrepreneurship in the K-12 space is the next frontier for entrepreneurship education and the value generated form an entrepreneurship academy will far exceed expectations. Entrepreneurship education gives high school students that edge-a type of differentiation that all stakeholders should embrace.” There is also local support from Old Dominion University for the development of this program, Nancy Grden, Executive Director at the Old Dominion University Strome Entrepreneurial Center, states that “ODU shares your (Virginia Beach City Public Schools) vision to align with the region’s economic development and entrepreneurial needs.” ODU has established an Entrepreneurial Learning Community for incoming freshmen and adopted Babson College’s entrepreneurial curriculum. It is evident from the letters of support from higher education institutions and business partners that this academy will provide exciting and needed opportunities for students. The following is a list of partnerships that have been established:
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