Learning and Education

According to the U.S. Department of Education, children can experience a learning loss equivalent to two months of math and reading skills during the summer months. More than half of the achievement gap between lower and higher income youth can possibly be explained by an unequal access of the children to summer learning opportunities. The temptations are great for children to spend hours watching television or playing video games. However, just because it is summer vacation doesn’t mean students’ brains need to take a vacation. “You don’t want your kids to think that learning is only something that happens in places called schools,” says Susan K. Perry, author of Playing Smart: The Family Guide to Enriching Offbeat Learning Activities for Ages 4-14. With some planning, the summer can be the best time for learning and building new skills. Here are a few ways to make the most out of the summer. 1. Webinars Geographic distances between learning institutions and students can often create a barrier for learning during the summer. With webinars, students get access to virtual classes from anywhere. Another great thing about webinars is that you can find ones on just about any topic. This means that students can learn more about the things that interest them, which makes learning during the summer feel like less of a chore. For students that are starting to look beyond high school, summer is also the perfect time to begin career development. This July, U can B is offering a number of work-related webinars that cover the following topics: Networking Using Social Media for Job Searching Using Linkedin for Job Hunting How to Create a Professional Online Brand 2. Reading Programs Reading is a great way to keep students’ minds active during the summer months. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton of money on books. Instead, find out if your public library is part of the Collaborative Summer Library Program. Public libraries in participating states purchase posters, reading logs, bookmarks, certificates and a variety of reading incentives that help engage kids and get them excited about reading. 3. Start a Garden A fun way to foster students’ education and personal development during the summer is through gardening. Not only does gardening help create generations of kids connected to their food, community, and planet, but it also develops valuable skills such as planning, math, and science. Check out the Kids Gardening website for lots of great ideas and resources on how to get started. There are plenty of ways to ensure students’ minds don’t go into hibernation this summer. Learning does not have to be a seasonal event; with the right methods, students can be excited about learning year round! Plan ahead and take advantage of technology as well as free programs that make learning...

The fact that there are problems with the US education system is well known. Unfortunately, several of these issues are having very negative effects on the quality of the education our students are receiving. American students’ latest scores on the PISA (Programme of International Student Assessment), the international test taken by 15 year-olds around the world, show just how bad these problems are. Depending on the subject, American students are average or slightly below average compared to their international peers — ranking 17th in reading, 26th in math, and 21st in science. What’s wrong with the current education system? Here are two of the reasons: Students Don’t Have the Right Skills The US Education Department recently reported that the high school graduation rate is at an all-time high at 82 percent. However, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the largest standardized test administered in the United States, less than 40 percent of high school seniors in America have sufficient academic skills in math and reading to pass entry-level college courses. Additionally, a study released by the Education Trust concluded that “rather than ensuring students have access to a cohesive curriculum that aligns high school coursework and students’ future goals, high schools are prioritizing credit accrual, which treats graduation as the end goal.” Students Aren’t Exposed to Career Options Not only do students lack the skills to succeed after high school, they also aren’t given the necessary exposure to all of the options that exist after graduation, whether it be college or a technical trade. While high school students shouldn’t necessarily nail down a specific career path, they should be exploring their interests and personality in order to develop a general idea. That way, when the time comes to pick a career path, they can choose something relevant and fulfilling. If we want students to be prepared for highly skilled jobs in the foreseeable future, it is essential that they are able to explore the possibilities before they graduate. Without these opportunities, students will be left feeling aimless. To prepare students for the future, we must empower them with the skills that help foster success after graduation. Programs like U can B are dedicated to assisting in the mission for improved education. U can B uses the real-world expertise of entrepreneurs and businesspeople to give students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. The U can B Curriculum is tailored to meet each individual school’s needs, which means each curriculum component can be expanded or contracted to fit within a specific number of weeks based on the strengths and weaknesses of the class. In order to best prepare students for the future, the U can B curriculum includes Entrepreneurship, Networking, Careers in the Trades, Technology, Film, Television, Science, and more. The statistics don’t lie, change is needed in the US education system. If we work together, we can give students the tools to become the innovators of tomorrow....

U can B – programs and efforts align with nationwide trends. Americans have always taken pride in having the best-educated workforce in the world, but now that is no longer true. In Tough Choices, Tough Times, the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce reports that over the past 30 years one country after another has surpassed the United States in the percentage of its population entering the workforce with the equivalent of a high school diploma, and many more countries are on the verge of doing so. Thirty years ago, the U.S. could lay claim to having 30 percent of the world’s population of college students. Today that proportion has fallen substantially, to 14 percent, and continues to decline. American students place anywhere from the middle of the pack to the bottom in all three continuing comparative studies of achievement in mathematics, science, and general literacy among advanced industrial nations.Students from low-income families are six times more likely not to finish high school than those from high-income families. Building Bridges is a 501(c)3 organization that educates and empowers through: • Live and virtual business education and workshops • Coffee With Film Series on CBS/KDKA digital with a 1.4 M home reach. • U can B teaching program • Student portal with data analytics • and Building the Bridges across the business and workforce ecosystem. Our mission is to strengthen the economic vitality of the region by providing educational programming and opportunities for small business and students to connect with vital resources. The U can B program highlights – • Proven curriculum – Taught in school and after school programs. • “Coffee With…” videos and in person interactive discussions are used to educate students on their purpose, passion and career options. • Educational programming – for students to connect with vital business resources. The students that U can B reaches will use the analytics dashboard that allows schools to follow participating students, gain meaningful and measurable analytics, and keep up with them longitudinally as they progress. • Follow Students • Internal Messaging • Post OpportunitiesImpact • See How They Compare • Show Certifications • Organize Achievements • Geographic Data • Skills Breakdown • Test Score...

Pittsburgh Perry High School and local nonprofit, Building Bridges for Business, hosts Opportunity Fairs for parents, students and local employers. Building Bridges for Business, Perry High School and the Pittsburgh Public Schools will host the Opportunity Fair at Perry High School in the Northside of Pittsburgh, PA. Councilwoman Darlene Harris said, “I’d like to thank the Pittsburgh Public Schools and Building Bridges for organizing this unique event. It is important for the city’s youth to know that there are great opportunities for blue and white collar jobs on the North Side, and throughout the Pittsburgh region. I encourage both parents and students to attend.” The Perry High School – Opportunity Fair will be held in March 15, 2016 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the Perry High School cafeteria. Employers and recruiters will give information to potential employees. Both adults and student job seekers can attend the Opportunity Fair on March 15, 2016. Parents and students are encouraged to bring a resume and apply for positions that evening. Parents and students will be able to meet with 15+ employers including The City of Pittsburgh, Modcloth, Bidwell, Rosedale Technical College, Goodwill, Allegheny Health Network, Job Corps, The Program for Offenders, UPS, Atlas Dreams Languages, US District Court, Logix Guru, American Income Life and local Northside businesses. Building Bridges for Business is a 501©3 organization providing career education via their program U can B. U can B has 80+ weeks of curriculum meeting the Pennsylvania State Education Association teaching standards. The U can B program also uses their Coffee With Show videos and in person speakers to engage students. Entrepreneurs and businesspeople, along with the non-profit organization Building Bridges for Business, are giving local students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. Building Bridges for Business will host several other Opportunity Fair events throughout Allegheny County. Every event will provide access to education and the region’s amazing business resources. Details of the organization’s history and programs can be found on www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org. Contact for the Press Release Ebony Pugh, Public Information Officer, Pittsburgh Public Schools Work phone is 412-529-3616 and cell...

Youth entrepreneurship is growing rapidly in the United Staes and internationally. These stories prove that kids can be just as impactful in the business world as adults! With programs like U can B, we can prepare the next generation for college and beyond. More importantly, we can start unburying their passions today instead of tomorrow. Age is just a number. Let’s teach our kids there’s nothing they can’t master with a little knowledge and hard work. After that, we’ll see more and more youth entrepreneurial success stories, just like these! Rachel Zietz: Gladiator Lacrosse In 2013 at the age of 13, Rachel Zietz founded Gladiator Lacrosse. As a lacrosse player herself, Rachel found that sports equipment was too expensive and not particularly durable. To solve this problem, she has created a line of quality and affordable rebounders and practice goals for lacrosse players. Three years after its founding, Gladiator Lacrosse generated more than $1 million in revenue and Rachel was honored as one of the finalists for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Entrepreneur Award. Moziah Bridges: Mo’s Bows Moziah is only 14 years old, but he is already the CEO of his own company! Fueled by his love for fashion, this dapper CEO launched his own bow-tie business at age 9. Since its launch, Mo’s Bows has been featured on the Steve Harvey Show, the Today Show, Good Morning America, and Shark Tank. Mo hand picks every fabric and approves every visual element, and has sold more than $300,000 worth of bow ties and men’s accessories. Additionally, he’s dedicated to giving back to society. In 2012, Moziah started “go mo!” a charity focused on sending Memphis children to summer camp. Youth entrepreneurial success stories don’t have to be headline news. As technology and society advances, our education system needs to follow. That’s where programs like U can B come in. With courses in entrepreneurship, students grades 6-12 can be inspired from a young age to create their own opportunities in life! Together, we can make these types of success stories a prominent part of our culture, and not so taboo. Investing in our youth is investing in everyone’s future....

Perry High School and local non profit, Building Bridges for Business, hosts Opportunity Fairs for parents, students and local employers. Building Bridges for Business, Perry High School and the Pittsburgh Public Schools will host the Opportunity Fair at Perry High School in the Northside of Pittsburgh, PA. Parents and students will be able to apply for jobs. Councilwoman Darlene Harris said, “I’d like to thank the Pittsburgh Public Schools and Building Bridges for organizing this unique event. It is important for the city’s youth to know that there are great opportunities for blue and white collar jobs on the North Side, and throughout the Pittsburgh region. I encourage both parents and students to attend.” The Perry High School – Opportunity Fair will be held in March 15, 2016 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the Perry High School cafeteria. Employers and recruiters, will give information to potential employees. Both adults and student job seekers can attend the Opportunity Fair on March 15, 2016. Parents and students are encouraged to bring your resume and apply for positions that evening. Parents and students will be able to meet with 15+ employers including Allegheny Health Network, The City of Pittsburgh, Modcloth, Amazon, Bidwell, Rosedale Technical College, and local Northside businesses. Building Bridges for Business is a 501©3 organization providing career education via their program U can B. U can B has 60+ weeks of curriculum meeting the PA STATE teaching guidelines. U can B also uses their Coffee With Show and in person speakers to engage students. Entrepreneurs and businesspeople, along with the non-profit organization Building Bridges for Business, are giving local students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. Building Bridges for Business will host several other Opportunity Fair events throughout Allegheny County. Every event will provide access to education and the region’s amazing business resources. Details of the organization’s history and programs can be found on...