We’re excited to announce that we are working with Schlagle High School as part of an advisory board for the Diploma+ program.
This program is an initiative on behalf of Kansas City, Kansas public schools and gives high school students access to real-life career experiences. Our very own Elizabeth McFadden was asked to sit on this board and offer council for what should be in the curriculum for current program participants and future students. The advisory board is reviewing the marketing track curriculum and offering honest feedback and advice for what students will need to enter the real world of marketing and advertising.
How the Program Began
Leadership at the Kansas City, Kansas school district realized that their high schoolers were not as well-equipped for college as they could be. In order to prepare their students for success in a global society, leadership decided to implement a district-wide initiative called Diploma+. The goal of Diploma+ is for each student to graduate with a high school diploma, plus one of the following seven endorsements:
- Completion of at least one full year of college (18-30 credit hours)
- Completion of an industry-recognized certificate of credential
- At least 21 on the ACT or 1060 on the SAT
- Completion of the IB Diploma programme or career-related programme
- Acceptance into the military
- Completion of a qualified internship or industry-approved project
- An approved plan for post-secondary transition.
As an advisor to the committee, Elizabeth will help in offering advice and curriculum guidance for qualified internship and career-related programs, plus other aspects of the Diploma+ initiative.
Our Involvement
We are so honored and delighted to be selected for this committee. We have a lot of interns walk through our doors and we love taking them alongside us as we work with local businesses. We’re a small team, so we value the work that our interns do. This opportunity allows us to help encourage and shape the future of students interested in marketing and strategic communications by giving the Diploma+ committee real-world examples and advice to prepare their students for careers in our field.
We’re excited to see what this program becomes. Stay tuned for updates!
