The U.S. Department of Education is launching the National Education Startup Challenge. They are inviting students to develop an innovative solution to an education problem and design a blueprint for a new company or organization – a startup – to deliver that solution.

Students from across the country are invited to submit a business plan and a video pitch for a for-profit or non-profit startup that includes an innovative strategy, product or service designed to address one of these four topics:

1. Middle Grades Matter
   Helping middle school students transition to high school and stay on track to graduate.
2. Skills, Skills, Skills
   Providing students in rural, urban, and/or high-poverty communities with opportunities for internships or other work- and community-based learning experiences that help them develop skills for success in postsecondary education, 21^st century careers, and civic life.
3. Education Pays
   Making it easier for students and families to find and select high-quality, affordable postsecondary programs – whether colleges, universities, or career training programs – that provide good value.
4. Finishing Faster
   Increasing the likelihood that postsecondary students complete their degrees, and decreasing the time it takes them to finish, such as by improving and speeding up remedial education.

Submissions will be judged by a panel of prominent educators and entrepreneurs who will identify the top startup submissions in three categories:

• 6^th – 8^th grade students
• 9^th – 12^th grade students
• Undergraduate/ postsecondary students

Complete guidelines and entry information can be found here: http://nesc.challenge.gov.

Tags: Contests, Government Relations, National Education Startup Challenge

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 at 9:46 am and is filed under Executive Perspectives. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.