A Unique New Educational Resource For

Public & Private Schools

America’s largest hands-onstandards-based learning experience

for Middle Schooland High School students

Standards-Based CurriculumAligned to the GLE’s

Applies and IntegratesMath * Language Arts * Social Studies * Civics *

Economics * Technology Applications

Gets ALL Students Excited About Learning

“The Best Programs in America to Support Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

Education in Middle and High School.”Larry Zabar, V.P., New England Council

Increases Student Test Scores

Teaches Personal Financial Literacy

Improves Student Workforce Preparedness

Increases Student School Attendance Rates

There are 24 Exchange Cities in the USA

Exchange City & EarthWorks Immersive Learning Model

Cost-effective, comprehensive, turn-key curriculum and simulation

Unique, memory-of-a-lifetime learning experiences

Outstanding curriculum suitable for all students at a grade level

Aligned with state frameworks & No Child Left Behind requirements

Systemic career education and workforce development

Staff development and training

Exemplary parent involvement

Welcome to Our World – Exchange City

Exchange City - A Remarkable Learning Lab

Mayor’s Press Conference

How Exchange City Works Hand in Hand with Teachers

• Exchange City is best suited for 5th through 9th Graders

• 7 week (30 hr) in-school program taught by the student’s regular teachers in their regular classrooms.

• Optional 2 week (12 hr) in-school curriculum in preparation for visit.

• The one day or two day visit to Exchange City occurs as a field trip in the 6th week of study.

• Students take on roles of employees, producers, consumers and citizens.

• In addition to their teachers, parent volunteers accompany each class

of students and participate and/or observe all activities.

Exchange City Annual Site Capacity – School Year Only15,000 9-15 year-old Students, 1,000 Teachers & 20,000 Parents

The Target Audience

At full capacity, more than 30,000 middle and high school students will visit Exchange City and EarthWorks annually.

The “City” is customized to reflect local institutions and businesses.

Every “business” in Exchange City uses computers and other digital equipment as an integral part of their operations.

Public and private schools participate from across the United States.

The Center’s facilities are used throughout the year for camps, special events, workforce training, and teacher education programs.

Bank Offices

Checking Accounts for All

Immediate Documented Results and Improvements

• Exchange City and EarthWorks Enjoy High Degrees ofBusiness and Industry Support and Participation.

• Why? Because They Work and Produce Concrete,Documented and Observable Results.

• Students from Every Demographic and Income LevelParticipate and Benefit through Corporate Scholarships and Sponsorships.

• No Other Program More Directly Connects the BusinessCommunity to Today’s Crucial Educational Issues.

Production Studio

In Exchange City, Students…

• Create a job resume and a job application• Have a job interview• Get hired as an employee in a business• Put together a business plan• Produce and price real products and services• Plan advertising• Market real products and services• Calculate payroll expenses• Take on accounting services• Make materials purchases

In Exchange City, Students…

• Fill out business loan applications• Take out a business bank loan• Write radio and newspaper advertisements• Design business signs and logos• Create business slogans• Pay taxes• Pay utilities• Pay rent• Repay bank loan (not every business succeeds)• Make payroll

AnalysisBrainstormingCategorizationCause and effectClassifyingCollaborationCommunicationComparing/contrastingComputationCreative thinkingCreative writingCritical thinkingData collectionDecision-makingDrawing/artEditing

PrioritizingProblem-solvingProductionProof-readingPublic speakingReadingResearchSelf-relianceSequencingSocial skillsSpeakingTeamworkTechnical readingTechnologyWriting

Flowchart constructionGraphingGroup discussionIdentifying patternsInterpersonal relationshipsInterviewingListeningMathMeasuringNegotiationObservationOrganization

Program Skills Used By Students

AbundanceAccountingAdvertisingBalance SheetsBanksBankingBarteringBudgetingBusiness expensesBusiness loansBusiness planningBusiness operationsCapital resourcesChecking accountsCitizenship

CampaignCampaign managementCashCareerCareer explorationCheck registersCompound interestConsumerCostCreditDebit cardsDemandDepositsDivision of labor

EarningEditorialsEfficiencyElectionsEmployeeEndorsementEntrepreneurEntrepreneurshipExchange rateFederal grantsFriendly lettersGoodsGovernmentGross payHuman resourcesIncome

Exchange City - Program Concepts

InterestInvestingJobJob ApplicationLawsLetters to the editorLoansMarketingMonetary valueMoneyMoney systemNatural resourcesNeedsNet payOpportunity cost

Overdrawn accountsPartnershipPersonal financePriceProducerProductionProfitPublic service announcementsPublic servicesPurchasingQualityReceiptsReconciliationReferencesRésumé

SalesSavingScarcitySpendingServicesStock marketStocksStock market reportsSupplyTaxesUtilitiesValueVenture capitalWants

Exchange City - Program Concepts

Volunteer Parents Actively Involved Throughout the Day

Timeline of Exchange City Student Experience

Four Weeks (20 Hours) of Economic ConceptsWants & Needs – Supply & Demand – Scarcity & Abundance – Resources – Government (Laws)

Government (Taxes) – Goods & Services – Production – Division of Labor – Producers/ConsumersOpportunity Cost – Entrepreneurship – Bartering – Our Money System – Banking – Checking Accts

Earners, Spenders & Savers

Two Weeks (10 Hours) of Job PreparationWriting Laws – Deciding on Exchange City Laws – Employment /Applying for a Job – Resume Writing

Career Interest Inventory – Select Exchange City Job – Apply for Job – Interview for JobPersonal Finance – Paychecks – Debit Cards – Business Operations – Shop Groups – Business

NameEmployment Information Sheets – Loan Application – Utilities – Setting Prices – Advertising

Tagline for Website – Business Sign Design – Radio and Newspaper Ads – Business AccountingInventory

FULL DAY SPENT AT EXCHANGE CITY “IMMERSIVE LEARNING” CENTER

Two Weeks (10 Hours) of Follow-up Concepts and Extension ActivitiesReconciling Accounts – Investing – Stock Market Reports – Venture Capital – Business Expansion

Career Exploration – Reflection #1 – Observations from the City – Citizen handbook – Reflection #2 –Exchange City Memories – Thank You Notes – Letters and Feedback to City Staff – Ongoing Work

Newspaper Offices

Other Prominent Uses of Technology

The Exchange City Newspaper

is Published Twice a Day Accounting Department

All Exchange City Businesses Have One

Exchange City Bank

provides Checkin

g Account

s & Business

Loans

TECHNOLOGY IS EVERYWHERE

Production Studio

It’s All About the Results and the Students(Improvements in Achievement)

BEFORE AFTER

Students with on or above grade level achievement scores….

Students with below grade level achievement scores……

Low achieving students…

60th Percentile 81st Percentile

48.6 Percentile 72.7 Percentile

41.7 Percentile 71.6 Percentile

While the Exchange City program has a dramatic improvement impact on all participants, the MOST exceptional impact (72% improvement)

is on otherwise low achieving students.

It’s All About the Results and the Students(Improvements on Government and Finance Questions)

ALL CORRECT ANSWERS

BEFORE AFTER

Items Relating to Government, Social Studies, Civics and Legal Concepts….

Items Relating to Math and Bank Accounting Systems as well as Checking Accounts….

25% 67%

NONE 67%

“A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS”

Teachers consistently report major improvement in classroom activity and learning results from the elevation of the skill sets of the lower-achieving

students. These skill sets rise to levels comparable or better than the prior baseline scores of the better performing students so that the entire

group benefits overall.

Testing Outcomes

• Economic Concept Pre-Test Post-Test UnderstandingUnderstanding

• Scarcity 9% 80%• Laws 20% 60%• Taxes 30% 85%• Goods & Services 60% 95%• Wants & Needs 90% 90%• Production Patterns 40% 95%• Division of Labor 35% 95%• Opportunity Cost 0% 60%• Personal Banking 40% 90%• Personal Checking 20% 85%• Check Writing 20% 80%• Account Reconciliation 20% 85%• Making Deposits 0% 65%

Post-test scores increased significantly from the pre-test scores

Retail Sales Activity

ALL Exchange City Students are…

• Focused• Intense• Serious• Learning• Collaborating• Thinking• Applying their classroom-gained knowledge• Experiencing the world we’re preparing them for• Understanding the value of being in school• Experiencing what it takes to get, and have a job

What Students Are Saying…

“I learned how to effectively run a business”“You got to be responsible for all your actions”“Without Exchange City, I would not know what an accountant does”“I learned what it is like to own a business”“I learned how to write a check, deposit money and run a big shop”“I enjoyed the responsibility of working as an attorney in City Hall”“I learned how to write checks and list every transaction in the register

book”“I learned how to run a bank…now I have to get an education”“Getting my paycheck was cool”“I was Sales Associate at the Nature Shop. Selling was a blast” “Now I understand the process my parents go through paying bills”“It was hard to be calm during the job interview”“I learned that to pay off the loan is not as easy as it sounds”“Being president of the bank was complicated yet fun”“I really think the bank business is what I am most interested in”“My number one shop was the Broadcast center because I owned it”“Now I see how it feels to have a real job and to work as a team”“I liked counting the money that was going to pay back the bank loan”“Now I know why my mom is so tired after working”