Eastern Iowa school officials seek state funding for new high school learning model

DES MOINES — Prairie High School freshman Paisley Joens used to be frightened to stand in front of the classroom to present a project.

Now, the once-timid ninth-grader can’t wait to share her ideas and collaborate with her peers as they delve into solving real-world problems faced by area businesses.

“I was scared to speak in front of my class, and I'm speaking in front of all of you right now. So that's just one skill that I've learned,” she told state lawmakers Monday during a presentation to the Iowa House Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

Joens is part of a project-based learning program called 3 Dimensions of Education, or 3DE, at Prairie in southwest Cedar Rapids. The learning model, powered by Junior Achievement, brings together schools, local businesses and 3DE staff to integrate real-world business challenges into the curriculum.

Joens joined representatives from Junior Achievement, the College Community School District and the Cedar Rapids Community School District to request state funding to expand the high school instructional model to more students and schools across the state.

The group is asking lawmakers provide $1.2 million in next year’s fiscal budget to support the model at four high schools. The school districts would contribute $525,000 total, with companies providing $300,000 more.

The group hopes to expand the program to a total of 22 Iowa schools and 13,640 student by 2030, supported by a $6.6 million state appropriation, with school districts contributing $1.2 million, companies $300,000 and $327,500 worth of mentoring hours.

  Buy Photo

The costs include dedicated staffing at the school, training, teacher certification and business partner recruitment.

The program is currently offered to freshman at Prairie and Alburnett high schools, and will grow by a grade level each year.

The Cedar Rapids and Marshalltown community school districts plan to adopt the high school instructional model next fall.

The program will be adopted by the Cedar Rapids district as a part of its College & Career Pathways at Washington High School. The instructional model will be integrated into English Language Arts classes for ninth-graders at Washington with hopes to expand the model to other Cedar Rapids high schools, said Superintendent Twana Grover.

Part of the freshman English Language Arts classes will feature six case studies throughout the year, where students will have the chance to learn from real-life business scenarios and build relationships with local business professionals.

“That allows our students to, No. 1, just explore and learn about their options beyond high school, including college as well as careers,” Grover told The Gazette. “ … As we work with 3DE, we still have our state standards. Our students are still achieving their state standards, but these projects that 3DE is bringing alongside them, it enriches their course offerings as well as connect them to business and industries within our community.”

Schools that have implemented the programs have seen increased graduation rates, fewer chronically-absent students and a higher rate of college enrollment compared with host school peers, according to the program.

Ninth grade students in 3DE programs across the nation also have shown a 34 percent higher math proficiency and a 27 percent higher reading proficiency, according to Junior Achievement.

“We’ll learn from Washington High School as they implement it, and then we will make a decision and we'll be able to see how it fits into our broader goals for our students,” Grover said.

Another ‘tool in the toolbox?’

  Buy Photo

Matt Sima, who teaches 3DE at Prairie’s 9th Grade Center, said students are more engaged in 3DE this year than in any business class he’s taught in the last decade.

“I can say with the confidence this has truly been one of the most rewarding years in my teaching career because of the growth I’ve seen in students,” Sima said.

3DE gives students an edge in preparing for the future by growing “soft” skills like teamwork and problem-solving by encouraging creativity and innovation, cultural agility, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and self-direction, he said.

Joens said the program encourages student collaboration through small-group discussions and facilitated debates that helps students boost their confidence and become more engaged.

“I have seen myself grow tremendously and my peers. Everyone around me has matured so much,” she told lawmakers. “ … Everybody was just very excited about presenting what they've been working on for those five weeks, showing what they've learned.”

Teachers and students are grouped into small cohorts. During their freshman and sophomore years, students work in small teams to research, analyze and develop solutions to real-world problems faced by local and national businesses.

Students explore six business cases each academic year, working together on each case for five weeks, said Nate Klein, vice president for education at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. Cases are built around real-world, real-time business challenges. Students then use core subjects like math and English to solve the cases, Klein said.

Past cases have included researching and presenting options for how Van Meter — a wholesale electrical supply distributor headquartered in Cedar Rapids — should expand its footprint in Iowa. Should the company renovate an existing space or build new?

  Buy Photo

Students spent weeks researching the question, learning about the business and cold-calling local real estate agents and warehouse owners to see what land and buildings were available and how much it would cost.

They also assumed the role of marketing professionals, helping Arby’s devise a way to get more teens interested in eating at the fast-food chain.

Companies provide employees to act as coaches and guide students during their case, and present their solutions to a panel of judges from the company for review and feedback.

In their junior year, students develop and pitch their own plans for a new startup business while continuing to get coaching from industry experts. During their senior year, students work with a company to understand its needs and develop a comprehensive solution. They define benchmarks and deliverables to support the development of an action plan for the client. At the end of the session, they present their project to company leaders.

Klein and Doug Wheeler, superintendent of College Community School District, said schools benefit from a curriculum that is more engaging and relevant. For students, the program provides hands-on experience that helps them develop practical, transferable skills crucial for success in the modern workforce. Local businesses benefit by having the opportunity to shape the skills and mindset of future employees, and build a more skilled and prepared workforce.

Students also gain valuable insight into different industries and career paths.

“When you have real, authentic, purposeful engagement from businesses — whether it's a business in a large city or a co-op in a small town, or a manufacturing facility in a small town in Iowa — then students that live there are seeing a future in the place that they live,” Wheeler said. “And you know, one of our fears sometimes is that they don't see a future for themselves in the place that they live. And it may just be because they don't know all the different things you can do. … It’s hard to dream about something you’ve never seen.”

Rep. Austin Harris, R-Moulton, chairs the Iowa House Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Harris said lawmakers are developing targets for next year’s state budget based on the latest state revenue projections released last week, but will “take a hard look” at the group’s budget request.

“You know, under Gov. (Kim) Reynolds and this Legislature, we've tried to be innovative in how we conduct education in the state,” Harris said.

He said 3DE could be “another tool in the toolbox” as the state looks to improve workforce readiness, accelerate academic performance, increase student engagement and reduce school absences.

“I think it's a worthwhile program to continue to look at,” Harris said.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com