Description
During on this brief paper relating to national standards of practice for entrepreneurship education.
National Standards of Practice
for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
NATIONAL CONTENT STANDARDS FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
In 2005, the frst-ever National Content Standards
for Entrepreneurship Education were launched by
the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
This unique defnition of the feld of
entrepreneurship education as a whole was the
result of asking entrepreneurs what they do and
what one needs to know to do it. The resulting
403 performance indicators and benchmarks are
available to help guide educators in building a
curriculum.
The Content Standards apply for all grades and all
ages. This includes elementary school — where
entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged through
creative thinking activities and where the concept
of business ownership is applied within the context
of academic skills — and university and adult
levels, where problem-solving and higher order
activities are practiced by those studying business
or already in business. Quality entrepreneurship
programs will use Content Standards as a
foundation. Review additional details on the next
page and visit the Consortium website to access the
free toolkit today!
WEBSITE – www.entre-ed.org
Visit the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date
information, resources, curriculum samples, and
training opportunities. The website is freely
available and provides the ideal starting point for
those interested in entrepreneurship education.
SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EDUCATION
Under the leadership of the Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education, members and associates
can participate in a number of support initiatives,
including:
• Building support for a National Entrepreneurship
Week that will help Americans focus on
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education as
resources critical to the economy of the future.
• The annual Entrepreneurship Education Forum
that features presentations and workshops on
innovative entrepreneurship programs, resource
exhibits, and networking opportunities.
• Online training seminars for teachers on a variety
of entrepreneurship education-related topics.
Opportunities for teachers to obtain funding
grants to build new and innovative teaching
strategies, resources, and programs.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is recognized as the
national leader in advocating entrepreneurship education as a lifelong
learning process. The Consortium champions entrepreneurship education
and provides advocacy, leadership, networking, technical assistance, and
resources across all levels and disciplines of education, promoting quality
practices and programs.
The Consortium is a national membership organization for leaders
advocating entrepreneurship education, composed of national, state,
and local education agencies and organizations.
Membership is available for all – contact us for details.
About
Accountability
Encourages Success
THE BIG PICTURE
• Align entrepreneurship education efforts with the objectives of your
organization and focus on providing positive benefts for all stakeholders.
• Use qualifed personnel within a supportive and rewarding environment.
• Apply quality standards, frequent evaluation, and continuous
improvement.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Apply the National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education.
• Use the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date information, resources,
and training.
• Connect with Entrepreneurship Education leaders in your region,
nationally, and internationally.
For information contact:
The Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199,
Columbus, OH 43212 USA
Cathy Ashmore, Executive Director
Tel 614-486-6538
[email protected]
Join us!
Facilitate student motivation
Enhance opportunities for work and life
Increase invention and innovation
Strengthen economies
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education is a non-proft (501 C-3) corporation
including over 80 organizations at local, state and
national levels that champion entrepreneurship
education as a lifelong learning process
throughout America.
The Consortium has a variety of member
organizations, all of which provide leadership
in diverse settings, including those who
design curriculum and establish education
policy at the state level, teachers/leaders in
the K-12 educational system, community/
technical colleges and universities, community
based organizations that provide economic
development opportunities through preparing
entrepreneurs, and foundations focused on
improving education through entrepreneurship.
www.entre-ed.org
Resources
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship Education
National Content Standards for
Entrepreneurship Education
There are ffteen major standards, which are
divided into the following three major sections:
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
The unique traits, behaviors and processes that
differentiate an entrepreneur from an employee
or manager.
READY SKILLS
The business, or entrepreneurial, knowledge
and skills that are prerequisites or co-requisites
for the study of entrepreneurship.
BUSINESS FUNCTIONS
The business activities performed in starting
and running a business.
ENTREPRENEURS TELL US THAT the
Entrepreneur Skills build upon both the
Ready Skills and the Business Functions. The
Entrepreneur Skills include the process, traits
and behaviors applicable to new ventures
and ongoing ventures that create, drive, and
change economic activity - new markets, new
products, new businesses, and more. These
non-sequential, often overlapping, stages of
the entrepreneurial process are:
DISCOVERY
Where the entrepreneur generates ideas,
recognizes opportunities, and determines the
feasibility of ideas, markets, ventures, etc.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Where the entrepreneur plans the venture,
identifes needed resources using a business
plan, identifes strategies to protect intellectual
property, etc.
RESOURCING
Where the entrepreneur identifes and acquires
the fnancial, human, and capital resources
needed for the venture startup, etc.
ACTUALIZATION
Where the entrepreneur operates the venture
and utilizes resources to achieve its goals and
objectives.
HARVESTING
Where the entrepreneur decides on the
venture’s future (growth, development, demise).
POSITIVE BENEFITS
Establish measurable outcomes that focus on providing
value for all stakeholders.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Document, refect, measure, and evaluate programs and
learning outcomes. Practice continuous improvement
and frequently measure results and impact.
DIVERSITY IN PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Seek to include people of all backgrounds in the
program, as instructors, leaders, and mentors to
enhance and expand program design and delivery.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Be the model of responsible entrepreneurship that
you wish to instill in students, by acting ethically
as an initiator of change within your institution or
community.
ORGANIZATION VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS
Entrepreneurship education can be implemented
in all types of organizations, from public schools,
community-based organizations, economic
development incubators, community colleges,
universities, and more. Seek to align entrepreneurship
education efforts with your organization’s underlying
values and direction.
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT
Ensure that individuals designing and delivering
entrepreneurship education programs are appropriately
qualifed with suffcient credentials and/or experience.
Support them with the resources, training, guidance,
and encouragement needed to maximize success.
QUALITY STANDARDS
Align with available content standards to provide
a curriculum framework that is both thorough and
focuses on the right learning outcomes.
Concepts
that Facilitate
Entrepreneurial
Thinking
Outcomes
from Encouraging
Entrepreneurship
THE BIG PICTURE
Entrepreneurship education is a lifelong learning process
that takes many different forms at all levels of education and
training. It delivers positive outcomes at all levels, with the
common outcome being experience that develops expertise for
entrepreneurial success.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Allow students to recognize opportunities to create and build something
from practically nothing.
• Enable students to realize that they have self-employment options as well
as those involving working for others.
• Encourage big dreams, build skills, and enable students to catch the vision,
see the opportunity, and create a way to use their talents and skills.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Instructors should act as facilitators and coaches, rather than
providers of knowledge.
• Apply experiential and problem-based learning approaches.
• Use diverse strategies that encourage the entrepreneurial spirit
to emerge.
“Effective entrepreneurship education prepares people
to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become
entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute
to economic development and sustainable communities.”
Entrepreneurship education goes beyond business ownership.
Entrepreneurship education benefts everyone by fostering a
fundamental understanding of business, free market economies,
and the skills and confdence needed for personal and
community success.
Entrepreneurial thinkers make better employees; they make
better government workers, better public representatives, better
leaders, and, of course, better business owners.
The National Standards of Practice are intended to provide
encouragement and ideas to facilitate entrepreneurship education
and the structure to assure a consistent and high-quality result.
The National Standards of Practice complement the National
Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education, which
provide additional detail with performance indicators.
Why is Entrepreneurship
Education Important?
Entrepreneurship is a key driver
of our economy. Wealth and a
high majority of jobs are created
by small businesses started
by entrepreneurially minded
individuals, many of whom go on
to create big businesses. People
exposed to entrepreneurship
frequently express that they have
more opportunity to exercise
creative freedoms, higher self-
esteem, and an overall greater
sense of control over their own
lives. As a result, many experienced
businesspeople, political leaders,
economists, and educators
believe that fostering a robust
entrepreneurial culture will
maximize individual and collective
economic and social success on a
local, national, and global scale.
The National Federation of
Independent Business states:
“Publicly recognizing the critical
role played in our country by
today’s entrepreneurs helps to
encourage others to join their
ranks in the future. The
economic strength of the U.S. will
beneft greatly as a result.”
The Partnership for 21st Century
Skills advocates Entrepreneurship
K-12 as a content area: “Developing
entrepreneurial skills to enhance
workplace productivity and career
options.”
What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build something from
practically nothing.
• It is initiating, doing, achieving and building an enterprise or organization,
rather than just watching, analyzing, or describing one.
• It is the knack for sensing an opportunity where others see chaos,
contradiction and confusion.
• It is the ability to build a “founding team” to complement your own skills
and talents.
• It is the know-how to fnd, marshal and control resources (often owned
by others) and to make sure you don’t run out of money when you need
it most.
• Finally, it is the willingness to take calculated risks, both personal and
fnancial, and then do everything possible to get the odds in your favor.
Defnition courtesy of
Jeffrey Timmons, Babson College
Positive Outcomes for All Students
• Increased sense of “locus of control”
• Greater awareness of personal talents and skills
• Improved school attendance
• Higher academic achievement
• Apply enhanced creativity skills in business situations
• Enhanced business opportunity recognition skills
• Handle business situations ethically
• Use problem solving skills effectively
• Understand steps essential in business startup
• Enhanced awareness of career and entrepreneurial options
• Use strategies for idea generation and assessment of feasibility
of ideas
• Understanding of basic free market economy
• Enhanced basic fnancial concepts
• Increased awareness of the entrepreneur’s role in the economy
• Expanded awareness of social responsibility & entrepreneurs
contribution to society
• Greater likelihood of graduating to next education level
Positive Outcomes for Post Secondary and Adult
• Enhanced personal and career goals and attitudes
• Improved self-management skills because of focus on personal
responsibility
• Enhanced ability to pursue additional training or access other
resources and services
• Improved problem identifcation and solving skills for business
operations issues
• Enhanced self-worth through understanding of personal
capabilities
• Enhanced reliance on teamwork as focus to solve realistic and
complicated problems
• Ability to pursue entrepreneurship as a means of making a living
• Improved business startup planning and management skills
• Ability to follow a business plan to achieve business goals
• Demonstrate business management/operation skills to maintain
business longevity
• Demonstrate fnancial management and application of basic
accounting principles
• Rethinking of business closings as an exit strategy versus failure
• Transfer of learning from academic concepts to real situations
in life
• Enhanced self-awareness and motivation as focus on personal
goals are stressed
• Improved interpersonal communications to focus business
messages
• Engage in ethical business applications/practices
Positive Outcomes for Elementary School
• Improved focus on personal goals
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Improved economic literacy
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
Positive Outcomes for Middle School
• Improved basic academic skills - 4 Rs
• Increased self-esteem and respect for others
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Increased workplace literacy awareness
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
• Enhanced personal development by focusing on risk-taking and
learning from failure
• Improved ability to identify and recognize business
opportunities
• Improved understanding of free markets and opportunity cost
• Understand the entrepreneurship business planning process
• Learn how to earn money and make it work for oneself
• Embrace diversity through enhanced socialization skills
• Improved confict resolution, negotiation, sales, marketing, and
persuasion skills
• Motivated not to drop out – advance to high school
Positive Outcomes for High School
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Ability to use communication and planning skills to write
business plans
• Apply free market economic principles in personal life
• Decrease in substance abuse
• Use math and communications skills in real-world applications
• Apply computer skills in business applications
• Continue to focus and review individual entrepreneurial interests
• Enhance application of technical skills in entrepreneurial contexts
• Apply basic marketing skills easily in business situations
• Translate problems into acceptable opportunities
• Manage risk so that challenges are acceptable
• Identify legitimate sources of capital for advancing their dreams
• Evaluate ownership structures for businesses effectively
• Apply principles of human relations management
• Use communication skills to speak the “language” of business
and entrepreneurship
• Motivated not to drop out – complete high school
• Encourage others to gain competence to achieve personal goals
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Provide a curriculum that is organized around the
fve entrepreneurial processes: Discovery, Concept
Development, Resourcing, Actualization, and
Harvesting. Offer suffcient depth to ensure successful
entrepreneurial performance as identifed in the
National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship
Education.
BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS
Use entrepreneurship as the real-world context to
demonstrate the importance of academic skills,
including math, science, communications, digital skills,
technology, geography, history, and more.
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS
Portray, in a realistic way, the relationship between risk
and reward in the entrepreneurial process as it operates
in the free-enterprise system. Provide opportunities to
understand basic economic concepts such as savings,
interest, supply and demand, and more.
PERSONAL INTEREST AND INVESTMENT
Provide opportunities for students to start and operate
enterprises of an appropriate size and scope, in which
they are personally invested, and in a manner that is
signifcant to them.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Reinforce the concept that successful entrepreneurs
take calculated risks based on sound research and
relevant information, including economic analysis.
BUSINESS PLANNING
Require students to develop a comprehensive
business plan that addresses its fnancial, marketing,
and operational aspects.
CAREER GUIDANCE
Generate an understanding of the many career felds
that offer entrepreneurial opportunities. Opportunities
abound for entrepreneurial thinkers in all sectors and
industries, whether starting or managing a business, or
as employees offering new ideas and approaches.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Emphasize the need to operate enterprises and
organizations in a legal, ethical, and socially and
environmentally responsible manner.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE
Demonstrate the place for entrepreneurship in school-
to-career transition, community service, and economic
development strategies, as students become involved
in for-proft, not-for-proft, and public sectors of the
economy.
Methods
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship
Education
role-playing, guest speakers, mentors, advisors,
role models, feld trips, computer-based training,
and more.
LIFELONG LEARNING MODEL FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process that
has at least fve distinct stages of development, as
outlined in the chart below. Entrepreneurial skills
can be fostered throughout all levels of education
from elementary to adult. Learning outcomes are
adjusted for each level as students mature and build
on previous knowledge.
FACILITATING AND COACHING
Instructors should position themselves, not as
the providers of knowledge, but as facilitators of
learning, whose role is to build knowledge in their
students; facilitate the discovery process and provide
coaching to guide students to solutions; and allow
them to choose their own paths and to learn from
their own mistakes and successes.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Entrepreneurs are not born; rather, they become
through the experiences of their lives. Provide
hands-on learning opportunities where students
actively learn by doing. Personalize the learning
experience for each student whenever possible to
build emotional equity in the learning process and
ownership of the outcome.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Entrepreneurial thinkers are good problem-solvers.
Curriculum should provide the opportunity to tackle
both simple and complex problems. Activities
should include challenges with and without clear
solutions.
STUDENTS AS LEADERS
Wherever possible, students should be
provided the responsibility to lead
their own inquiry-based learning
opportunities. Such student-directed
activities may include planning,
creating, and operating businesses,
feld trips, negotiation exercises,
and group problem-solving.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Involve individuals from the surrounding
community to serve as guest speakers,
mentors, advisors, and role models.
VARIETY OF METHODS
Use a variety of methods to facilitate the
learning process with a focus on higher-
level learning, including books, courses,
seminars, research, group learning,
© 2004 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
S
t
a
r
t
-
U
p
G
r
o
w
t
h
Stage
5
Stage
4
• solve business problems effectively
• expand existing business
• become self-employed
• develop polices and
procedures for a new or
existing business
B
a
s
i
c
s
C
o
m
p
e
t
e
n
c
y
A
w
a
r
e
n
e
s
s
• learn entrepreneurship competencies
• apply specifc occupational training
• learn how to create new businesses
• discover entrepreneurship competencies
• understand problems of employers
• gain prerequisite basic skills
• identify career options
• understand economics and free enterprise
Stage
3
Stage
2
Stage
1
C
r
e
a
t
i
v
e
A
p
p
l
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
Job Experience Job Training & Education
Concepts
that Facilitate
Entrepreneurial
Thinking
Outcomes
from Encouraging
Entrepreneurship
THE BIG PICTURE
Entrepreneurship education is a lifelong learning process
that takes many different forms at all levels of education and
training. It delivers positive outcomes at all levels, with the
common outcome being experience that develops expertise for
entrepreneurial success.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Allow students to recognize opportunities to create and build something
from practically nothing.
• Enable students to realize that they have self-employment options as well
as those involving working for others.
• Encourage big dreams, build skills, and enable students to catch the vision,
see the opportunity, and create a way to use their talents and skills.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Instructors should act as facilitators and coaches, rather than
providers of knowledge.
• Apply experiential and problem-based learning approaches.
• Use diverse strategies that encourage the entrepreneurial spirit
to emerge.
“Effective entrepreneurship education prepares people
to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become
entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute
to economic development and sustainable communities.”
Entrepreneurship education goes beyond business ownership.
Entrepreneurship education benefts everyone by fostering a
fundamental understanding of business, free market economies,
and the skills and confdence needed for personal and
community success.
Entrepreneurial thinkers make better employees; they make
better government workers, better public representatives, better
leaders, and, of course, better business owners.
The National Standards of Practice are intended to provide
encouragement and ideas to facilitate entrepreneurship education
and the structure to assure a consistent and high-quality result.
The National Standards of Practice complement the National
Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education, which
provide additional detail with performance indicators.
Why is Entrepreneurship
Education Important?
Entrepreneurship is a key driver
of our economy. Wealth and a
high majority of jobs are created
by small businesses started
by entrepreneurially minded
individuals, many of whom go on
to create big businesses. People
exposed to entrepreneurship
frequently express that they have
more opportunity to exercise
creative freedoms, higher self-
esteem, and an overall greater
sense of control over their own
lives. As a result, many experienced
businesspeople, political leaders,
economists, and educators
believe that fostering a robust
entrepreneurial culture will
maximize individual and collective
economic and social success on a
local, national, and global scale.
The National Federation of
Independent Business states:
“Publicly recognizing the critical
role played in our country by
today’s entrepreneurs helps to
encourage others to join their
ranks in the future. The
economic strength of the U.S. will
beneft greatly as a result.”
The Partnership for 21st Century
Skills advocates Entrepreneurship
K-12 as a content area: “Developing
entrepreneurial skills to enhance
workplace productivity and career
options.”
What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build something from
practically nothing.
• It is initiating, doing, achieving and building an enterprise or organization,
rather than just watching, analyzing, or describing one.
• It is the knack for sensing an opportunity where others see chaos,
contradiction and confusion.
• It is the ability to build a “founding team” to complement your own skills
and talents.
• It is the know-how to fnd, marshal and control resources (often owned
by others) and to make sure you don’t run out of money when you need
it most.
• Finally, it is the willingness to take calculated risks, both personal and
fnancial, and then do everything possible to get the odds in your favor.
Defnition courtesy of
Jeffrey Timmons, Babson College
Positive Outcomes for All Students
• Increased sense of “locus of control”
• Greater awareness of personal talents and skills
• Improved school attendance
• Higher academic achievement
• Apply enhanced creativity skills in business situations
• Enhanced business opportunity recognition skills
• Handle business situations ethically
• Use problem solving skills effectively
• Understand steps essential in business startup
• Enhanced awareness of career and entrepreneurial options
• Use strategies for idea generation and assessment of feasibility
of ideas
• Understanding of basic free market economy
• Enhanced basic fnancial concepts
• Increased awareness of the entrepreneur’s role in the economy
• Expanded awareness of social responsibility & entrepreneurs
contribution to society
• Greater likelihood of graduating to next education level
Positive Outcomes for Post Secondary and Adult
• Enhanced personal and career goals and attitudes
• Improved self-management skills because of focus on personal
responsibility
• Enhanced ability to pursue additional training or access other
resources and services
• Improved problem identifcation and solving skills for business
operations issues
• Enhanced self-worth through understanding of personal
capabilities
• Enhanced reliance on teamwork as focus to solve realistic and
complicated problems
• Ability to pursue entrepreneurship as a means of making a living
• Improved business startup planning and management skills
• Ability to follow a business plan to achieve business goals
• Demonstrate business management/operation skills to maintain
business longevity
• Demonstrate fnancial management and application of basic
accounting principles
• Rethinking of business closings as an exit strategy versus failure
• Transfer of learning from academic concepts to real situations
in life
• Enhanced self-awareness and motivation as focus on personal
goals are stressed
• Improved interpersonal communications to focus business
messages
• Engage in ethical business applications/practices
Positive Outcomes for Elementary School
• Improved focus on personal goals
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Improved economic literacy
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
Positive Outcomes for Middle School
• Improved basic academic skills - 4 Rs
• Increased self-esteem and respect for others
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Increased workplace literacy awareness
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
• Enhanced personal development by focusing on risk-taking and
learning from failure
• Improved ability to identify and recognize business
opportunities
• Improved understanding of free markets and opportunity cost
• Understand the entrepreneurship business planning process
• Learn how to earn money and make it work for oneself
• Embrace diversity through enhanced socialization skills
• Improved confict resolution, negotiation, sales, marketing, and
persuasion skills
• Motivated not to drop out – advance to high school
Positive Outcomes for High School
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Ability to use communication and planning skills to write
business plans
• Apply free market economic principles in personal life
• Decrease in substance abuse
• Use math and communications skills in real-world applications
• Apply computer skills in business applications
• Continue to focus and review individual entrepreneurial interests
• Enhance application of technical skills in entrepreneurial contexts
• Apply basic marketing skills easily in business situations
• Translate problems into acceptable opportunities
• Manage risk so that challenges are acceptable
• Identify legitimate sources of capital for advancing their dreams
• Evaluate ownership structures for businesses effectively
• Apply principles of human relations management
• Use communication skills to speak the “language” of business
and entrepreneurship
• Motivated not to drop out – complete high school
• Encourage others to gain competence to achieve personal goals
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Provide a curriculum that is organized around the
fve entrepreneurial processes: Discovery, Concept
Development, Resourcing, Actualization, and
Harvesting. Offer suffcient depth to ensure successful
entrepreneurial performance as identifed in the
National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship
Education.
BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS
Use entrepreneurship as the real-world context to
demonstrate the importance of academic skills,
including math, science, communications, digital skills,
technology, geography, history, and more.
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS
Portray, in a realistic way, the relationship between risk
and reward in the entrepreneurial process as it operates
in the free-enterprise system. Provide opportunities to
understand basic economic concepts such as savings,
interest, supply and demand, and more.
PERSONAL INTEREST AND INVESTMENT
Provide opportunities for students to start and operate
enterprises of an appropriate size and scope, in which
they are personally invested, and in a manner that is
signifcant to them.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Reinforce the concept that successful entrepreneurs
take calculated risks based on sound research and
relevant information, including economic analysis.
BUSINESS PLANNING
Require students to develop a comprehensive
business plan that addresses its fnancial, marketing,
and operational aspects.
CAREER GUIDANCE
Generate an understanding of the many career felds
that offer entrepreneurial opportunities. Opportunities
abound for entrepreneurial thinkers in all sectors and
industries, whether starting or managing a business, or
as employees offering new ideas and approaches.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Emphasize the need to operate enterprises and
organizations in a legal, ethical, and socially and
environmentally responsible manner.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE
Demonstrate the place for entrepreneurship in school-
to-career transition, community service, and economic
development strategies, as students become involved
in for-proft, not-for-proft, and public sectors of the
economy.
Methods
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship
Education
role-playing, guest speakers, mentors, advisors,
role models, feld trips, computer-based training,
and more.
LIFELONG LEARNING MODEL FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process that
has at least fve distinct stages of development, as
outlined in the chart below. Entrepreneurial skills
can be fostered throughout all levels of education
from elementary to adult. Learning outcomes are
adjusted for each level as students mature and build
on previous knowledge.
FACILITATING AND COACHING
Instructors should position themselves, not as
the providers of knowledge, but as facilitators of
learning, whose role is to build knowledge in their
students; facilitate the discovery process and provide
coaching to guide students to solutions; and allow
them to choose their own paths and to learn from
their own mistakes and successes.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Entrepreneurs are not born; rather, they become
through the experiences of their lives. Provide
hands-on learning opportunities where students
actively learn by doing. Personalize the learning
experience for each student whenever possible to
build emotional equity in the learning process and
ownership of the outcome.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Entrepreneurial thinkers are good problem-solvers.
Curriculum should provide the opportunity to tackle
both simple and complex problems. Activities
should include challenges with and without clear
solutions.
STUDENTS AS LEADERS
Wherever possible, students should be
provided the responsibility to lead
their own inquiry-based learning
opportunities. Such student-directed
activities may include planning,
creating, and operating businesses,
feld trips, negotiation exercises,
and group problem-solving.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Involve individuals from the surrounding
community to serve as guest speakers,
mentors, advisors, and role models.
VARIETY OF METHODS
Use a variety of methods to facilitate the
learning process with a focus on higher-
level learning, including books, courses,
seminars, research, group learning,
© 2004 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
S
t
a
r
t
-
U
p
G
r
o
w
t
h
Stage
5
Stage
4
• solve business problems effectively
• expand existing business
• become self-employed
• develop polices and
procedures for a new or
existing business
B
a
s
i
c
s
C
o
m
p
e
t
e
n
c
y
A
w
a
r
e
n
e
s
s
• learn entrepreneurship competencies
• apply specifc occupational training
• learn how to create new businesses
• discover entrepreneurship competencies
• understand problems of employers
• gain prerequisite basic skills
• identify career options
• understand economics and free enterprise
Stage
3
Stage
2
Stage
1
C
r
e
a
t
i
v
e
A
p
p
l
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
Job Experience Job Training & Education
Concepts
that Facilitate
Entrepreneurial
Thinking
Outcomes
from Encouraging
Entrepreneurship
THE BIG PICTURE
Entrepreneurship education is a lifelong learning process
that takes many different forms at all levels of education and
training. It delivers positive outcomes at all levels, with the
common outcome being experience that develops expertise for
entrepreneurial success.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Allow students to recognize opportunities to create and build something
from practically nothing.
• Enable students to realize that they have self-employment options as well
as those involving working for others.
• Encourage big dreams, build skills, and enable students to catch the vision,
see the opportunity, and create a way to use their talents and skills.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Instructors should act as facilitators and coaches, rather than
providers of knowledge.
• Apply experiential and problem-based learning approaches.
• Use diverse strategies that encourage the entrepreneurial spirit
to emerge.
“Effective entrepreneurship education prepares people
to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become
entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute
to economic development and sustainable communities.”
Entrepreneurship education goes beyond business ownership.
Entrepreneurship education benefts everyone by fostering a
fundamental understanding of business, free market economies,
and the skills and confdence needed for personal and
community success.
Entrepreneurial thinkers make better employees; they make
better government workers, better public representatives, better
leaders, and, of course, better business owners.
The National Standards of Practice are intended to provide
encouragement and ideas to facilitate entrepreneurship education
and the structure to assure a consistent and high-quality result.
The National Standards of Practice complement the National
Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education, which
provide additional detail with performance indicators.
Why is Entrepreneurship
Education Important?
Entrepreneurship is a key driver
of our economy. Wealth and a
high majority of jobs are created
by small businesses started
by entrepreneurially minded
individuals, many of whom go on
to create big businesses. People
exposed to entrepreneurship
frequently express that they have
more opportunity to exercise
creative freedoms, higher self-
esteem, and an overall greater
sense of control over their own
lives. As a result, many experienced
businesspeople, political leaders,
economists, and educators
believe that fostering a robust
entrepreneurial culture will
maximize individual and collective
economic and social success on a
local, national, and global scale.
The National Federation of
Independent Business states:
“Publicly recognizing the critical
role played in our country by
today’s entrepreneurs helps to
encourage others to join their
ranks in the future. The
economic strength of the U.S. will
beneft greatly as a result.”
The Partnership for 21st Century
Skills advocates Entrepreneurship
K-12 as a content area: “Developing
entrepreneurial skills to enhance
workplace productivity and career
options.”
What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build something from
practically nothing.
• It is initiating, doing, achieving and building an enterprise or organization,
rather than just watching, analyzing, or describing one.
• It is the knack for sensing an opportunity where others see chaos,
contradiction and confusion.
• It is the ability to build a “founding team” to complement your own skills
and talents.
• It is the know-how to fnd, marshal and control resources (often owned
by others) and to make sure you don’t run out of money when you need
it most.
• Finally, it is the willingness to take calculated risks, both personal and
fnancial, and then do everything possible to get the odds in your favor.
Defnition courtesy of
Jeffrey Timmons, Babson College
Positive Outcomes for All Students
• Increased sense of “locus of control”
• Greater awareness of personal talents and skills
• Improved school attendance
• Higher academic achievement
• Apply enhanced creativity skills in business situations
• Enhanced business opportunity recognition skills
• Handle business situations ethically
• Use problem solving skills effectively
• Understand steps essential in business startup
• Enhanced awareness of career and entrepreneurial options
• Use strategies for idea generation and assessment of feasibility
of ideas
• Understanding of basic free market economy
• Enhanced basic fnancial concepts
• Increased awareness of the entrepreneur’s role in the economy
• Expanded awareness of social responsibility & entrepreneurs
contribution to society
• Greater likelihood of graduating to next education level
Positive Outcomes for Post Secondary and Adult
• Enhanced personal and career goals and attitudes
• Improved self-management skills because of focus on personal
responsibility
• Enhanced ability to pursue additional training or access other
resources and services
• Improved problem identifcation and solving skills for business
operations issues
• Enhanced self-worth through understanding of personal
capabilities
• Enhanced reliance on teamwork as focus to solve realistic and
complicated problems
• Ability to pursue entrepreneurship as a means of making a living
• Improved business startup planning and management skills
• Ability to follow a business plan to achieve business goals
• Demonstrate business management/operation skills to maintain
business longevity
• Demonstrate fnancial management and application of basic
accounting principles
• Rethinking of business closings as an exit strategy versus failure
• Transfer of learning from academic concepts to real situations
in life
• Enhanced self-awareness and motivation as focus on personal
goals are stressed
• Improved interpersonal communications to focus business
messages
• Engage in ethical business applications/practices
Positive Outcomes for Elementary School
• Improved focus on personal goals
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Improved economic literacy
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
Positive Outcomes for Middle School
• Improved basic academic skills - 4 Rs
• Increased self-esteem and respect for others
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Increased workplace literacy awareness
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
• Enhanced personal development by focusing on risk-taking and
learning from failure
• Improved ability to identify and recognize business
opportunities
• Improved understanding of free markets and opportunity cost
• Understand the entrepreneurship business planning process
• Learn how to earn money and make it work for oneself
• Embrace diversity through enhanced socialization skills
• Improved confict resolution, negotiation, sales, marketing, and
persuasion skills
• Motivated not to drop out – advance to high school
Positive Outcomes for High School
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Ability to use communication and planning skills to write
business plans
• Apply free market economic principles in personal life
• Decrease in substance abuse
• Use math and communications skills in real-world applications
• Apply computer skills in business applications
• Continue to focus and review individual entrepreneurial interests
• Enhance application of technical skills in entrepreneurial contexts
• Apply basic marketing skills easily in business situations
• Translate problems into acceptable opportunities
• Manage risk so that challenges are acceptable
• Identify legitimate sources of capital for advancing their dreams
• Evaluate ownership structures for businesses effectively
• Apply principles of human relations management
• Use communication skills to speak the “language” of business
and entrepreneurship
• Motivated not to drop out – complete high school
• Encourage others to gain competence to achieve personal goals
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Provide a curriculum that is organized around the
fve entrepreneurial processes: Discovery, Concept
Development, Resourcing, Actualization, and
Harvesting. Offer suffcient depth to ensure successful
entrepreneurial performance as identifed in the
National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship
Education.
BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS
Use entrepreneurship as the real-world context to
demonstrate the importance of academic skills,
including math, science, communications, digital skills,
technology, geography, history, and more.
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS
Portray, in a realistic way, the relationship between risk
and reward in the entrepreneurial process as it operates
in the free-enterprise system. Provide opportunities to
understand basic economic concepts such as savings,
interest, supply and demand, and more.
PERSONAL INTEREST AND INVESTMENT
Provide opportunities for students to start and operate
enterprises of an appropriate size and scope, in which
they are personally invested, and in a manner that is
signifcant to them.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Reinforce the concept that successful entrepreneurs
take calculated risks based on sound research and
relevant information, including economic analysis.
BUSINESS PLANNING
Require students to develop a comprehensive
business plan that addresses its fnancial, marketing,
and operational aspects.
CAREER GUIDANCE
Generate an understanding of the many career felds
that offer entrepreneurial opportunities. Opportunities
abound for entrepreneurial thinkers in all sectors and
industries, whether starting or managing a business, or
as employees offering new ideas and approaches.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Emphasize the need to operate enterprises and
organizations in a legal, ethical, and socially and
environmentally responsible manner.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE
Demonstrate the place for entrepreneurship in school-
to-career transition, community service, and economic
development strategies, as students become involved
in for-proft, not-for-proft, and public sectors of the
economy.
Methods
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship
Education
role-playing, guest speakers, mentors, advisors,
role models, feld trips, computer-based training,
and more.
LIFELONG LEARNING MODEL FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process that
has at least fve distinct stages of development, as
outlined in the chart below. Entrepreneurial skills
can be fostered throughout all levels of education
from elementary to adult. Learning outcomes are
adjusted for each level as students mature and build
on previous knowledge.
FACILITATING AND COACHING
Instructors should position themselves, not as
the providers of knowledge, but as facilitators of
learning, whose role is to build knowledge in their
students; facilitate the discovery process and provide
coaching to guide students to solutions; and allow
them to choose their own paths and to learn from
their own mistakes and successes.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Entrepreneurs are not born; rather, they become
through the experiences of their lives. Provide
hands-on learning opportunities where students
actively learn by doing. Personalize the learning
experience for each student whenever possible to
build emotional equity in the learning process and
ownership of the outcome.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Entrepreneurial thinkers are good problem-solvers.
Curriculum should provide the opportunity to tackle
both simple and complex problems. Activities
should include challenges with and without clear
solutions.
STUDENTS AS LEADERS
Wherever possible, students should be
provided the responsibility to lead
their own inquiry-based learning
opportunities. Such student-directed
activities may include planning,
creating, and operating businesses,
feld trips, negotiation exercises,
and group problem-solving.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Involve individuals from the surrounding
community to serve as guest speakers,
mentors, advisors, and role models.
VARIETY OF METHODS
Use a variety of methods to facilitate the
learning process with a focus on higher-
level learning, including books, courses,
seminars, research, group learning,
© 2004 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
S
t
a
r
t
-
U
p
G
r
o
w
t
h
Stage
5
Stage
4
• solve business problems effectively
• expand existing business
• become self-employed
• develop polices and
procedures for a new or
existing business
B
a
s
i
c
s
C
o
m
p
e
t
e
n
c
y
A
w
a
r
e
n
e
s
s
• learn entrepreneurship competencies
• apply specifc occupational training
• learn how to create new businesses
• discover entrepreneurship competencies
• understand problems of employers
• gain prerequisite basic skills
• identify career options
• understand economics and free enterprise
Stage
3
Stage
2
Stage
1
C
r
e
a
t
i
v
e
A
p
p
l
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
Job Experience Job Training & Education
Concepts
that Facilitate
Entrepreneurial
Thinking
Outcomes
from Encouraging
Entrepreneurship
THE BIG PICTURE
Entrepreneurship education is a lifelong learning process
that takes many different forms at all levels of education and
training. It delivers positive outcomes at all levels, with the
common outcome being experience that develops expertise for
entrepreneurial success.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Allow students to recognize opportunities to create and build something
from practically nothing.
• Enable students to realize that they have self-employment options as well
as those involving working for others.
• Encourage big dreams, build skills, and enable students to catch the vision,
see the opportunity, and create a way to use their talents and skills.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Instructors should act as facilitators and coaches, rather than
providers of knowledge.
• Apply experiential and problem-based learning approaches.
• Use diverse strategies that encourage the entrepreneurial spirit
to emerge.
“Effective entrepreneurship education prepares people
to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become
entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute
to economic development and sustainable communities.”
Entrepreneurship education goes beyond business ownership.
Entrepreneurship education benefts everyone by fostering a
fundamental understanding of business, free market economies,
and the skills and confdence needed for personal and
community success.
Entrepreneurial thinkers make better employees; they make
better government workers, better public representatives, better
leaders, and, of course, better business owners.
The National Standards of Practice are intended to provide
encouragement and ideas to facilitate entrepreneurship education
and the structure to assure a consistent and high-quality result.
The National Standards of Practice complement the National
Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education, which
provide additional detail with performance indicators.
Why is Entrepreneurship
Education Important?
Entrepreneurship is a key driver
of our economy. Wealth and a
high majority of jobs are created
by small businesses started
by entrepreneurially minded
individuals, many of whom go on
to create big businesses. People
exposed to entrepreneurship
frequently express that they have
more opportunity to exercise
creative freedoms, higher self-
esteem, and an overall greater
sense of control over their own
lives. As a result, many experienced
businesspeople, political leaders,
economists, and educators
believe that fostering a robust
entrepreneurial culture will
maximize individual and collective
economic and social success on a
local, national, and global scale.
The National Federation of
Independent Business states:
“Publicly recognizing the critical
role played in our country by
today’s entrepreneurs helps to
encourage others to join their
ranks in the future. The
economic strength of the U.S. will
beneft greatly as a result.”
The Partnership for 21st Century
Skills advocates Entrepreneurship
K-12 as a content area: “Developing
entrepreneurial skills to enhance
workplace productivity and career
options.”
What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build something from
practically nothing.
• It is initiating, doing, achieving and building an enterprise or organization,
rather than just watching, analyzing, or describing one.
• It is the knack for sensing an opportunity where others see chaos,
contradiction and confusion.
• It is the ability to build a “founding team” to complement your own skills
and talents.
• It is the know-how to fnd, marshal and control resources (often owned
by others) and to make sure you don’t run out of money when you need
it most.
• Finally, it is the willingness to take calculated risks, both personal and
fnancial, and then do everything possible to get the odds in your favor.
Defnition courtesy of
Jeffrey Timmons, Babson College
Positive Outcomes for All Students
• Increased sense of “locus of control”
• Greater awareness of personal talents and skills
• Improved school attendance
• Higher academic achievement
• Apply enhanced creativity skills in business situations
• Enhanced business opportunity recognition skills
• Handle business situations ethically
• Use problem solving skills effectively
• Understand steps essential in business startup
• Enhanced awareness of career and entrepreneurial options
• Use strategies for idea generation and assessment of feasibility
of ideas
• Understanding of basic free market economy
• Enhanced basic fnancial concepts
• Increased awareness of the entrepreneur’s role in the economy
• Expanded awareness of social responsibility & entrepreneurs
contribution to society
• Greater likelihood of graduating to next education level
Positive Outcomes for Post Secondary and Adult
• Enhanced personal and career goals and attitudes
• Improved self-management skills because of focus on personal
responsibility
• Enhanced ability to pursue additional training or access other
resources and services
• Improved problem identifcation and solving skills for business
operations issues
• Enhanced self-worth through understanding of personal
capabilities
• Enhanced reliance on teamwork as focus to solve realistic and
complicated problems
• Ability to pursue entrepreneurship as a means of making a living
• Improved business startup planning and management skills
• Ability to follow a business plan to achieve business goals
• Demonstrate business management/operation skills to maintain
business longevity
• Demonstrate fnancial management and application of basic
accounting principles
• Rethinking of business closings as an exit strategy versus failure
• Transfer of learning from academic concepts to real situations
in life
• Enhanced self-awareness and motivation as focus on personal
goals are stressed
• Improved interpersonal communications to focus business
messages
• Engage in ethical business applications/practices
Positive Outcomes for Elementary School
• Improved focus on personal goals
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Improved economic literacy
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
Positive Outcomes for Middle School
• Improved basic academic skills - 4 Rs
• Increased self-esteem and respect for others
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Increased workplace literacy awareness
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
• Enhanced personal development by focusing on risk-taking and
learning from failure
• Improved ability to identify and recognize business
opportunities
• Improved understanding of free markets and opportunity cost
• Understand the entrepreneurship business planning process
• Learn how to earn money and make it work for oneself
• Embrace diversity through enhanced socialization skills
• Improved confict resolution, negotiation, sales, marketing, and
persuasion skills
• Motivated not to drop out – advance to high school
Positive Outcomes for High School
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Ability to use communication and planning skills to write
business plans
• Apply free market economic principles in personal life
• Decrease in substance abuse
• Use math and communications skills in real-world applications
• Apply computer skills in business applications
• Continue to focus and review individual entrepreneurial interests
• Enhance application of technical skills in entrepreneurial contexts
• Apply basic marketing skills easily in business situations
• Translate problems into acceptable opportunities
• Manage risk so that challenges are acceptable
• Identify legitimate sources of capital for advancing their dreams
• Evaluate ownership structures for businesses effectively
• Apply principles of human relations management
• Use communication skills to speak the “language” of business
and entrepreneurship
• Motivated not to drop out – complete high school
• Encourage others to gain competence to achieve personal goals
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Provide a curriculum that is organized around the
fve entrepreneurial processes: Discovery, Concept
Development, Resourcing, Actualization, and
Harvesting. Offer suffcient depth to ensure successful
entrepreneurial performance as identifed in the
National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship
Education.
BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS
Use entrepreneurship as the real-world context to
demonstrate the importance of academic skills,
including math, science, communications, digital skills,
technology, geography, history, and more.
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS
Portray, in a realistic way, the relationship between risk
and reward in the entrepreneurial process as it operates
in the free-enterprise system. Provide opportunities to
understand basic economic concepts such as savings,
interest, supply and demand, and more.
PERSONAL INTEREST AND INVESTMENT
Provide opportunities for students to start and operate
enterprises of an appropriate size and scope, in which
they are personally invested, and in a manner that is
signifcant to them.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Reinforce the concept that successful entrepreneurs
take calculated risks based on sound research and
relevant information, including economic analysis.
BUSINESS PLANNING
Require students to develop a comprehensive
business plan that addresses its fnancial, marketing,
and operational aspects.
CAREER GUIDANCE
Generate an understanding of the many career felds
that offer entrepreneurial opportunities. Opportunities
abound for entrepreneurial thinkers in all sectors and
industries, whether starting or managing a business, or
as employees offering new ideas and approaches.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Emphasize the need to operate enterprises and
organizations in a legal, ethical, and socially and
environmentally responsible manner.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE
Demonstrate the place for entrepreneurship in school-
to-career transition, community service, and economic
development strategies, as students become involved
in for-proft, not-for-proft, and public sectors of the
economy.
Methods
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship
Education
role-playing, guest speakers, mentors, advisors,
role models, feld trips, computer-based training,
and more.
LIFELONG LEARNING MODEL FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process that
has at least fve distinct stages of development, as
outlined in the chart below. Entrepreneurial skills
can be fostered throughout all levels of education
from elementary to adult. Learning outcomes are
adjusted for each level as students mature and build
on previous knowledge.
FACILITATING AND COACHING
Instructors should position themselves, not as
the providers of knowledge, but as facilitators of
learning, whose role is to build knowledge in their
students; facilitate the discovery process and provide
coaching to guide students to solutions; and allow
them to choose their own paths and to learn from
their own mistakes and successes.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Entrepreneurs are not born; rather, they become
through the experiences of their lives. Provide
hands-on learning opportunities where students
actively learn by doing. Personalize the learning
experience for each student whenever possible to
build emotional equity in the learning process and
ownership of the outcome.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Entrepreneurial thinkers are good problem-solvers.
Curriculum should provide the opportunity to tackle
both simple and complex problems. Activities
should include challenges with and without clear
solutions.
STUDENTS AS LEADERS
Wherever possible, students should be
provided the responsibility to lead
their own inquiry-based learning
opportunities. Such student-directed
activities may include planning,
creating, and operating businesses,
feld trips, negotiation exercises,
and group problem-solving.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Involve individuals from the surrounding
community to serve as guest speakers,
mentors, advisors, and role models.
VARIETY OF METHODS
Use a variety of methods to facilitate the
learning process with a focus on higher-
level learning, including books, courses,
seminars, research, group learning,
© 2004 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
S
t
a
r
t
-
U
p
G
r
o
w
t
h
Stage
5
Stage
4
• solve business problems effectively
• expand existing business
• become self-employed
• develop polices and
procedures for a new or
existing business
B
a
s
i
c
s
C
o
m
p
e
t
e
n
c
y
A
w
a
r
e
n
e
s
s
• learn entrepreneurship competencies
• apply specifc occupational training
• learn how to create new businesses
• discover entrepreneurship competencies
• understand problems of employers
• gain prerequisite basic skills
• identify career options
• understand economics and free enterprise
Stage
3
Stage
2
Stage
1
C
r
e
a
t
i
v
e
A
p
p
l
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
Job Experience Job Training & Education
National Standards of Practice
for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
NATIONAL CONTENT STANDARDS FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
In 2005, the frst-ever National Content Standards
for Entrepreneurship Education were launched by
the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
This unique defnition of the feld of
entrepreneurship education as a whole was the
result of asking entrepreneurs what they do and
what one needs to know to do it. The resulting
403 performance indicators and benchmarks are
available to help guide educators in building a
curriculum.
The Content Standards apply for all grades and all
ages. This includes elementary school — where
entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged through
creative thinking activities and where the concept
of business ownership is applied within the context
of academic skills — and university and adult
levels, where problem-solving and higher order
activities are practiced by those studying business
or already in business. Quality entrepreneurship
programs will use Content Standards as a
foundation. Review additional details on the next
page and visit the Consortium website to access the
free toolkit today!
WEBSITE – www.entre-ed.org
Visit the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date
information, resources, curriculum samples, and
training opportunities. The website is freely
available and provides the ideal starting point for
those interested in entrepreneurship education.
SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EDUCATION
Under the leadership of the Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education, members and associates
can participate in a number of support initiatives,
including:
• Building support for a National Entrepreneurship
Week that will help Americans focus on
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education as
resources critical to the economy of the future.
• The annual Entrepreneurship Education Forum
that features presentations and workshops on
innovative entrepreneurship programs, resource
exhibits, and networking opportunities.
• Online training seminars for teachers on a variety
of entrepreneurship education-related topics.
Opportunities for teachers to obtain funding
grants to build new and innovative teaching
strategies, resources, and programs.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is recognized as the
national leader in advocating entrepreneurship education as a lifelong
learning process. The Consortium champions entrepreneurship education
and provides advocacy, leadership, networking, technical assistance, and
resources across all levels and disciplines of education, promoting quality
practices and programs.
The Consortium is a national membership organization for leaders
advocating entrepreneurship education, composed of national, state,
and local education agencies and organizations.
Membership is available for all – contact us for details.
About
Accountability
Encourages Success
THE BIG PICTURE
• Align entrepreneurship education efforts with the objectives of your
organization and focus on providing positive benefts for all stakeholders.
• Use qualifed personnel within a supportive and rewarding environment.
• Apply quality standards, frequent evaluation, and continuous
improvement.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Apply the National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education.
• Use the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date information, resources,
and training.
• Connect with Entrepreneurship Education leaders in your region,
nationally, and internationally.
For information contact:
The Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199,
Columbus, OH 43212 USA
Cathy Ashmore, Executive Director
Tel 614-486-6538
[email protected]
Join us!
Facilitate student motivation
Enhance opportunities for work and life
Increase invention and innovation
Strengthen economies
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education is a non-proft (501 C-3) corporation
including over 80 organizations at local, state and
national levels that champion entrepreneurship
education as a lifelong learning process
throughout America.
The Consortium has a variety of member
organizations, all of which provide leadership
in diverse settings, including those who
design curriculum and establish education
policy at the state level, teachers/leaders in
the K-12 educational system, community/
technical colleges and universities, community
based organizations that provide economic
development opportunities through preparing
entrepreneurs, and foundations focused on
improving education through entrepreneurship.
www.entre-ed.org
Resources
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship Education
National Content Standards for
Entrepreneurship Education
There are ffteen major standards, which are
divided into the following three major sections:
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
The unique traits, behaviors and processes that
differentiate an entrepreneur from an employee
or manager.
READY SKILLS
The business, or entrepreneurial, knowledge
and skills that are prerequisites or co-requisites
for the study of entrepreneurship.
BUSINESS FUNCTIONS
The business activities performed in starting
and running a business.
ENTREPRENEURS TELL US THAT the
Entrepreneur Skills build upon both the
Ready Skills and the Business Functions. The
Entrepreneur Skills include the process, traits
and behaviors applicable to new ventures
and ongoing ventures that create, drive, and
change economic activity - new markets, new
products, new businesses, and more. These
non-sequential, often overlapping, stages of
the entrepreneurial process are:
DISCOVERY
Where the entrepreneur generates ideas,
recognizes opportunities, and determines the
feasibility of ideas, markets, ventures, etc.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Where the entrepreneur plans the venture,
identifes needed resources using a business
plan, identifes strategies to protect intellectual
property, etc.
RESOURCING
Where the entrepreneur identifes and acquires
the fnancial, human, and capital resources
needed for the venture startup, etc.
ACTUALIZATION
Where the entrepreneur operates the venture
and utilizes resources to achieve its goals and
objectives.
HARVESTING
Where the entrepreneur decides on the
venture’s future (growth, development, demise).
POSITIVE BENEFITS
Establish measurable outcomes that focus on providing
value for all stakeholders.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Document, refect, measure, and evaluate programs and
learning outcomes. Practice continuous improvement
and frequently measure results and impact.
DIVERSITY IN PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Seek to include people of all backgrounds in the
program, as instructors, leaders, and mentors to
enhance and expand program design and delivery.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Be the model of responsible entrepreneurship that
you wish to instill in students, by acting ethically
as an initiator of change within your institution or
community.
ORGANIZATION VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS
Entrepreneurship education can be implemented
in all types of organizations, from public schools,
community-based organizations, economic
development incubators, community colleges,
universities, and more. Seek to align entrepreneurship
education efforts with your organization’s underlying
values and direction.
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT
Ensure that individuals designing and delivering
entrepreneurship education programs are appropriately
qualifed with suffcient credentials and/or experience.
Support them with the resources, training, guidance,
and encouragement needed to maximize success.
QUALITY STANDARDS
Align with available content standards to provide
a curriculum framework that is both thorough and
focuses on the right learning outcomes.
National Standards of Practice
for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
NATIONAL CONTENT STANDARDS FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
In 2005, the frst-ever National Content Standards
for Entrepreneurship Education were launched by
the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
This unique defnition of the feld of
entrepreneurship education as a whole was the
result of asking entrepreneurs what they do and
what one needs to know to do it. The resulting
403 performance indicators and benchmarks are
available to help guide educators in building a
curriculum.
The Content Standards apply for all grades and all
ages. This includes elementary school — where
entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged through
creative thinking activities and where the concept
of business ownership is applied within the context
of academic skills — and university and adult
levels, where problem-solving and higher order
activities are practiced by those studying business
or already in business. Quality entrepreneurship
programs will use Content Standards as a
foundation. Review additional details on the next
page and visit the Consortium website to access the
free toolkit today!
WEBSITE – www.entre-ed.org
Visit the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date
information, resources, curriculum samples, and
training opportunities. The website is freely
available and provides the ideal starting point for
those interested in entrepreneurship education.
SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EDUCATION
Under the leadership of the Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education, members and associates
can participate in a number of support initiatives,
including:
• Building support for a National Entrepreneurship
Week that will help Americans focus on
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education as
resources critical to the economy of the future.
• The annual Entrepreneurship Education Forum
that features presentations and workshops on
innovative entrepreneurship programs, resource
exhibits, and networking opportunities.
• Online training seminars for teachers on a variety
of entrepreneurship education-related topics.
Opportunities for teachers to obtain funding
grants to build new and innovative teaching
strategies, resources, and programs.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is recognized as the
national leader in advocating entrepreneurship education as a lifelong
learning process. The Consortium champions entrepreneurship education
and provides advocacy, leadership, networking, technical assistance, and
resources across all levels and disciplines of education, promoting quality
practices and programs.
The Consortium is a national membership organization for leaders
advocating entrepreneurship education, composed of national, state,
and local education agencies and organizations.
Membership is available for all – contact us for details.
About
Accountability
Encourages Success
THE BIG PICTURE
• Align entrepreneurship education efforts with the objectives of your
organization and focus on providing positive benefts for all stakeholders.
• Use qualifed personnel within a supportive and rewarding environment.
• Apply quality standards, frequent evaluation, and continuous
improvement.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Apply the National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education.
• Use the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date information, resources,
and training.
• Connect with Entrepreneurship Education leaders in your region,
nationally, and internationally.
For information contact:
The Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199,
Columbus, OH 43212 USA
Cathy Ashmore, Executive Director
Tel 614-486-6538
[email protected]
Join us!
Facilitate student motivation
Enhance opportunities for work and life
Increase invention and innovation
Strengthen economies
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education is a non-proft (501 C-3) corporation
including over 80 organizations at local, state and
national levels that champion entrepreneurship
education as a lifelong learning process
throughout America.
The Consortium has a variety of member
organizations, all of which provide leadership
in diverse settings, including those who
design curriculum and establish education
policy at the state level, teachers/leaders in
the K-12 educational system, community/
technical colleges and universities, community
based organizations that provide economic
development opportunities through preparing
entrepreneurs, and foundations focused on
improving education through entrepreneurship.
www.entre-ed.org
Resources
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship Education
National Content Standards for
Entrepreneurship Education
There are ffteen major standards, which are
divided into the following three major sections:
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
The unique traits, behaviors and processes that
differentiate an entrepreneur from an employee
or manager.
READY SKILLS
The business, or entrepreneurial, knowledge
and skills that are prerequisites or co-requisites
for the study of entrepreneurship.
BUSINESS FUNCTIONS
The business activities performed in starting
and running a business.
ENTREPRENEURS TELL US THAT the
Entrepreneur Skills build upon both the
Ready Skills and the Business Functions. The
Entrepreneur Skills include the process, traits
and behaviors applicable to new ventures
and ongoing ventures that create, drive, and
change economic activity - new markets, new
products, new businesses, and more. These
non-sequential, often overlapping, stages of
the entrepreneurial process are:
DISCOVERY
Where the entrepreneur generates ideas,
recognizes opportunities, and determines the
feasibility of ideas, markets, ventures, etc.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Where the entrepreneur plans the venture,
identifes needed resources using a business
plan, identifes strategies to protect intellectual
property, etc.
RESOURCING
Where the entrepreneur identifes and acquires
the fnancial, human, and capital resources
needed for the venture startup, etc.
ACTUALIZATION
Where the entrepreneur operates the venture
and utilizes resources to achieve its goals and
objectives.
HARVESTING
Where the entrepreneur decides on the
venture’s future (growth, development, demise).
POSITIVE BENEFITS
Establish measurable outcomes that focus on providing
value for all stakeholders.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Document, refect, measure, and evaluate programs and
learning outcomes. Practice continuous improvement
and frequently measure results and impact.
DIVERSITY IN PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Seek to include people of all backgrounds in the
program, as instructors, leaders, and mentors to
enhance and expand program design and delivery.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Be the model of responsible entrepreneurship that
you wish to instill in students, by acting ethically
as an initiator of change within your institution or
community.
ORGANIZATION VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS
Entrepreneurship education can be implemented
in all types of organizations, from public schools,
community-based organizations, economic
development incubators, community colleges,
universities, and more. Seek to align entrepreneurship
education efforts with your organization’s underlying
values and direction.
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT
Ensure that individuals designing and delivering
entrepreneurship education programs are appropriately
qualifed with suffcient credentials and/or experience.
Support them with the resources, training, guidance,
and encouragement needed to maximize success.
QUALITY STANDARDS
Align with available content standards to provide
a curriculum framework that is both thorough and
focuses on the right learning outcomes.
National Standards of Practice
for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
NATIONAL CONTENT STANDARDS FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
In 2005, the frst-ever National Content Standards
for Entrepreneurship Education were launched by
the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
This unique defnition of the feld of
entrepreneurship education as a whole was the
result of asking entrepreneurs what they do and
what one needs to know to do it. The resulting
403 performance indicators and benchmarks are
available to help guide educators in building a
curriculum.
The Content Standards apply for all grades and all
ages. This includes elementary school — where
entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged through
creative thinking activities and where the concept
of business ownership is applied within the context
of academic skills — and university and adult
levels, where problem-solving and higher order
activities are practiced by those studying business
or already in business. Quality entrepreneurship
programs will use Content Standards as a
foundation. Review additional details on the next
page and visit the Consortium website to access the
free toolkit today!
WEBSITE – www.entre-ed.org
Visit the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date
information, resources, curriculum samples, and
training opportunities. The website is freely
available and provides the ideal starting point for
those interested in entrepreneurship education.
SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EDUCATION
Under the leadership of the Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education, members and associates
can participate in a number of support initiatives,
including:
• Building support for a National Entrepreneurship
Week that will help Americans focus on
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education as
resources critical to the economy of the future.
• The annual Entrepreneurship Education Forum
that features presentations and workshops on
innovative entrepreneurship programs, resource
exhibits, and networking opportunities.
• Online training seminars for teachers on a variety
of entrepreneurship education-related topics.
Opportunities for teachers to obtain funding
grants to build new and innovative teaching
strategies, resources, and programs.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is recognized as the
national leader in advocating entrepreneurship education as a lifelong
learning process. The Consortium champions entrepreneurship education
and provides advocacy, leadership, networking, technical assistance, and
resources across all levels and disciplines of education, promoting quality
practices and programs.
The Consortium is a national membership organization for leaders
advocating entrepreneurship education, composed of national, state,
and local education agencies and organizations.
Membership is available for all – contact us for details.
About
Accountability
Encourages Success
THE BIG PICTURE
• Align entrepreneurship education efforts with the objectives of your
organization and focus on providing positive benefts for all stakeholders.
• Use qualifed personnel within a supportive and rewarding environment.
• Apply quality standards, frequent evaluation, and continuous
improvement.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Apply the National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education.
• Use the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date information, resources,
and training.
• Connect with Entrepreneurship Education leaders in your region,
nationally, and internationally.
For information contact:
The Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199,
Columbus, OH 43212 USA
Cathy Ashmore, Executive Director
Tel 614-486-6538
[email protected]
Join us!
Facilitate student motivation
Enhance opportunities for work and life
Increase invention and innovation
Strengthen economies
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education is a non-proft (501 C-3) corporation
including over 80 organizations at local, state and
national levels that champion entrepreneurship
education as a lifelong learning process
throughout America.
The Consortium has a variety of member
organizations, all of which provide leadership
in diverse settings, including those who
design curriculum and establish education
policy at the state level, teachers/leaders in
the K-12 educational system, community/
technical colleges and universities, community
based organizations that provide economic
development opportunities through preparing
entrepreneurs, and foundations focused on
improving education through entrepreneurship.
www.entre-ed.org
Resources
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship Education
National Content Standards for
Entrepreneurship Education
There are ffteen major standards, which are
divided into the following three major sections:
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
The unique traits, behaviors and processes that
differentiate an entrepreneur from an employee
or manager.
READY SKILLS
The business, or entrepreneurial, knowledge
and skills that are prerequisites or co-requisites
for the study of entrepreneurship.
BUSINESS FUNCTIONS
The business activities performed in starting
and running a business.
ENTREPRENEURS TELL US THAT the
Entrepreneur Skills build upon both the
Ready Skills and the Business Functions. The
Entrepreneur Skills include the process, traits
and behaviors applicable to new ventures
and ongoing ventures that create, drive, and
change economic activity - new markets, new
products, new businesses, and more. These
non-sequential, often overlapping, stages of
the entrepreneurial process are:
DISCOVERY
Where the entrepreneur generates ideas,
recognizes opportunities, and determines the
feasibility of ideas, markets, ventures, etc.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Where the entrepreneur plans the venture,
identifes needed resources using a business
plan, identifes strategies to protect intellectual
property, etc.
RESOURCING
Where the entrepreneur identifes and acquires
the fnancial, human, and capital resources
needed for the venture startup, etc.
ACTUALIZATION
Where the entrepreneur operates the venture
and utilizes resources to achieve its goals and
objectives.
HARVESTING
Where the entrepreneur decides on the
venture’s future (growth, development, demise).
POSITIVE BENEFITS
Establish measurable outcomes that focus on providing
value for all stakeholders.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Document, refect, measure, and evaluate programs and
learning outcomes. Practice continuous improvement
and frequently measure results and impact.
DIVERSITY IN PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Seek to include people of all backgrounds in the
program, as instructors, leaders, and mentors to
enhance and expand program design and delivery.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Be the model of responsible entrepreneurship that
you wish to instill in students, by acting ethically
as an initiator of change within your institution or
community.
ORGANIZATION VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS
Entrepreneurship education can be implemented
in all types of organizations, from public schools,
community-based organizations, economic
development incubators, community colleges,
universities, and more. Seek to align entrepreneurship
education efforts with your organization’s underlying
values and direction.
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT
Ensure that individuals designing and delivering
entrepreneurship education programs are appropriately
qualifed with suffcient credentials and/or experience.
Support them with the resources, training, guidance,
and encouragement needed to maximize success.
QUALITY STANDARDS
Align with available content standards to provide
a curriculum framework that is both thorough and
focuses on the right learning outcomes.
doc_901078424.pdf
During on this brief paper relating to national standards of practice for entrepreneurship education.
National Standards of Practice
for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
NATIONAL CONTENT STANDARDS FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
In 2005, the frst-ever National Content Standards
for Entrepreneurship Education were launched by
the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
This unique defnition of the feld of
entrepreneurship education as a whole was the
result of asking entrepreneurs what they do and
what one needs to know to do it. The resulting
403 performance indicators and benchmarks are
available to help guide educators in building a
curriculum.
The Content Standards apply for all grades and all
ages. This includes elementary school — where
entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged through
creative thinking activities and where the concept
of business ownership is applied within the context
of academic skills — and university and adult
levels, where problem-solving and higher order
activities are practiced by those studying business
or already in business. Quality entrepreneurship
programs will use Content Standards as a
foundation. Review additional details on the next
page and visit the Consortium website to access the
free toolkit today!
WEBSITE – www.entre-ed.org
Visit the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date
information, resources, curriculum samples, and
training opportunities. The website is freely
available and provides the ideal starting point for
those interested in entrepreneurship education.
SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EDUCATION
Under the leadership of the Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education, members and associates
can participate in a number of support initiatives,
including:
• Building support for a National Entrepreneurship
Week that will help Americans focus on
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education as
resources critical to the economy of the future.
• The annual Entrepreneurship Education Forum
that features presentations and workshops on
innovative entrepreneurship programs, resource
exhibits, and networking opportunities.
• Online training seminars for teachers on a variety
of entrepreneurship education-related topics.
Opportunities for teachers to obtain funding
grants to build new and innovative teaching
strategies, resources, and programs.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is recognized as the
national leader in advocating entrepreneurship education as a lifelong
learning process. The Consortium champions entrepreneurship education
and provides advocacy, leadership, networking, technical assistance, and
resources across all levels and disciplines of education, promoting quality
practices and programs.
The Consortium is a national membership organization for leaders
advocating entrepreneurship education, composed of national, state,
and local education agencies and organizations.
Membership is available for all – contact us for details.
About
Accountability
Encourages Success
THE BIG PICTURE
• Align entrepreneurship education efforts with the objectives of your
organization and focus on providing positive benefts for all stakeholders.
• Use qualifed personnel within a supportive and rewarding environment.
• Apply quality standards, frequent evaluation, and continuous
improvement.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Apply the National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education.
• Use the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date information, resources,
and training.
• Connect with Entrepreneurship Education leaders in your region,
nationally, and internationally.
For information contact:
The Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199,
Columbus, OH 43212 USA
Cathy Ashmore, Executive Director
Tel 614-486-6538
[email protected]
Join us!
Facilitate student motivation
Enhance opportunities for work and life
Increase invention and innovation
Strengthen economies
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education is a non-proft (501 C-3) corporation
including over 80 organizations at local, state and
national levels that champion entrepreneurship
education as a lifelong learning process
throughout America.
The Consortium has a variety of member
organizations, all of which provide leadership
in diverse settings, including those who
design curriculum and establish education
policy at the state level, teachers/leaders in
the K-12 educational system, community/
technical colleges and universities, community
based organizations that provide economic
development opportunities through preparing
entrepreneurs, and foundations focused on
improving education through entrepreneurship.
www.entre-ed.org
Resources
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship Education
National Content Standards for
Entrepreneurship Education
There are ffteen major standards, which are
divided into the following three major sections:
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
The unique traits, behaviors and processes that
differentiate an entrepreneur from an employee
or manager.
READY SKILLS
The business, or entrepreneurial, knowledge
and skills that are prerequisites or co-requisites
for the study of entrepreneurship.
BUSINESS FUNCTIONS
The business activities performed in starting
and running a business.
ENTREPRENEURS TELL US THAT the
Entrepreneur Skills build upon both the
Ready Skills and the Business Functions. The
Entrepreneur Skills include the process, traits
and behaviors applicable to new ventures
and ongoing ventures that create, drive, and
change economic activity - new markets, new
products, new businesses, and more. These
non-sequential, often overlapping, stages of
the entrepreneurial process are:
DISCOVERY
Where the entrepreneur generates ideas,
recognizes opportunities, and determines the
feasibility of ideas, markets, ventures, etc.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Where the entrepreneur plans the venture,
identifes needed resources using a business
plan, identifes strategies to protect intellectual
property, etc.
RESOURCING
Where the entrepreneur identifes and acquires
the fnancial, human, and capital resources
needed for the venture startup, etc.
ACTUALIZATION
Where the entrepreneur operates the venture
and utilizes resources to achieve its goals and
objectives.
HARVESTING
Where the entrepreneur decides on the
venture’s future (growth, development, demise).
POSITIVE BENEFITS
Establish measurable outcomes that focus on providing
value for all stakeholders.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Document, refect, measure, and evaluate programs and
learning outcomes. Practice continuous improvement
and frequently measure results and impact.
DIVERSITY IN PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Seek to include people of all backgrounds in the
program, as instructors, leaders, and mentors to
enhance and expand program design and delivery.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Be the model of responsible entrepreneurship that
you wish to instill in students, by acting ethically
as an initiator of change within your institution or
community.
ORGANIZATION VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS
Entrepreneurship education can be implemented
in all types of organizations, from public schools,
community-based organizations, economic
development incubators, community colleges,
universities, and more. Seek to align entrepreneurship
education efforts with your organization’s underlying
values and direction.
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT
Ensure that individuals designing and delivering
entrepreneurship education programs are appropriately
qualifed with suffcient credentials and/or experience.
Support them with the resources, training, guidance,
and encouragement needed to maximize success.
QUALITY STANDARDS
Align with available content standards to provide
a curriculum framework that is both thorough and
focuses on the right learning outcomes.
Concepts
that Facilitate
Entrepreneurial
Thinking
Outcomes
from Encouraging
Entrepreneurship
THE BIG PICTURE
Entrepreneurship education is a lifelong learning process
that takes many different forms at all levels of education and
training. It delivers positive outcomes at all levels, with the
common outcome being experience that develops expertise for
entrepreneurial success.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Allow students to recognize opportunities to create and build something
from practically nothing.
• Enable students to realize that they have self-employment options as well
as those involving working for others.
• Encourage big dreams, build skills, and enable students to catch the vision,
see the opportunity, and create a way to use their talents and skills.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Instructors should act as facilitators and coaches, rather than
providers of knowledge.
• Apply experiential and problem-based learning approaches.
• Use diverse strategies that encourage the entrepreneurial spirit
to emerge.
“Effective entrepreneurship education prepares people
to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become
entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute
to economic development and sustainable communities.”
Entrepreneurship education goes beyond business ownership.
Entrepreneurship education benefts everyone by fostering a
fundamental understanding of business, free market economies,
and the skills and confdence needed for personal and
community success.
Entrepreneurial thinkers make better employees; they make
better government workers, better public representatives, better
leaders, and, of course, better business owners.
The National Standards of Practice are intended to provide
encouragement and ideas to facilitate entrepreneurship education
and the structure to assure a consistent and high-quality result.
The National Standards of Practice complement the National
Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education, which
provide additional detail with performance indicators.
Why is Entrepreneurship
Education Important?
Entrepreneurship is a key driver
of our economy. Wealth and a
high majority of jobs are created
by small businesses started
by entrepreneurially minded
individuals, many of whom go on
to create big businesses. People
exposed to entrepreneurship
frequently express that they have
more opportunity to exercise
creative freedoms, higher self-
esteem, and an overall greater
sense of control over their own
lives. As a result, many experienced
businesspeople, political leaders,
economists, and educators
believe that fostering a robust
entrepreneurial culture will
maximize individual and collective
economic and social success on a
local, national, and global scale.
The National Federation of
Independent Business states:
“Publicly recognizing the critical
role played in our country by
today’s entrepreneurs helps to
encourage others to join their
ranks in the future. The
economic strength of the U.S. will
beneft greatly as a result.”
The Partnership for 21st Century
Skills advocates Entrepreneurship
K-12 as a content area: “Developing
entrepreneurial skills to enhance
workplace productivity and career
options.”
What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build something from
practically nothing.
• It is initiating, doing, achieving and building an enterprise or organization,
rather than just watching, analyzing, or describing one.
• It is the knack for sensing an opportunity where others see chaos,
contradiction and confusion.
• It is the ability to build a “founding team” to complement your own skills
and talents.
• It is the know-how to fnd, marshal and control resources (often owned
by others) and to make sure you don’t run out of money when you need
it most.
• Finally, it is the willingness to take calculated risks, both personal and
fnancial, and then do everything possible to get the odds in your favor.
Defnition courtesy of
Jeffrey Timmons, Babson College
Positive Outcomes for All Students
• Increased sense of “locus of control”
• Greater awareness of personal talents and skills
• Improved school attendance
• Higher academic achievement
• Apply enhanced creativity skills in business situations
• Enhanced business opportunity recognition skills
• Handle business situations ethically
• Use problem solving skills effectively
• Understand steps essential in business startup
• Enhanced awareness of career and entrepreneurial options
• Use strategies for idea generation and assessment of feasibility
of ideas
• Understanding of basic free market economy
• Enhanced basic fnancial concepts
• Increased awareness of the entrepreneur’s role in the economy
• Expanded awareness of social responsibility & entrepreneurs
contribution to society
• Greater likelihood of graduating to next education level
Positive Outcomes for Post Secondary and Adult
• Enhanced personal and career goals and attitudes
• Improved self-management skills because of focus on personal
responsibility
• Enhanced ability to pursue additional training or access other
resources and services
• Improved problem identifcation and solving skills for business
operations issues
• Enhanced self-worth through understanding of personal
capabilities
• Enhanced reliance on teamwork as focus to solve realistic and
complicated problems
• Ability to pursue entrepreneurship as a means of making a living
• Improved business startup planning and management skills
• Ability to follow a business plan to achieve business goals
• Demonstrate business management/operation skills to maintain
business longevity
• Demonstrate fnancial management and application of basic
accounting principles
• Rethinking of business closings as an exit strategy versus failure
• Transfer of learning from academic concepts to real situations
in life
• Enhanced self-awareness and motivation as focus on personal
goals are stressed
• Improved interpersonal communications to focus business
messages
• Engage in ethical business applications/practices
Positive Outcomes for Elementary School
• Improved focus on personal goals
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Improved economic literacy
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
Positive Outcomes for Middle School
• Improved basic academic skills - 4 Rs
• Increased self-esteem and respect for others
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Increased workplace literacy awareness
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
• Enhanced personal development by focusing on risk-taking and
learning from failure
• Improved ability to identify and recognize business
opportunities
• Improved understanding of free markets and opportunity cost
• Understand the entrepreneurship business planning process
• Learn how to earn money and make it work for oneself
• Embrace diversity through enhanced socialization skills
• Improved confict resolution, negotiation, sales, marketing, and
persuasion skills
• Motivated not to drop out – advance to high school
Positive Outcomes for High School
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Ability to use communication and planning skills to write
business plans
• Apply free market economic principles in personal life
• Decrease in substance abuse
• Use math and communications skills in real-world applications
• Apply computer skills in business applications
• Continue to focus and review individual entrepreneurial interests
• Enhance application of technical skills in entrepreneurial contexts
• Apply basic marketing skills easily in business situations
• Translate problems into acceptable opportunities
• Manage risk so that challenges are acceptable
• Identify legitimate sources of capital for advancing their dreams
• Evaluate ownership structures for businesses effectively
• Apply principles of human relations management
• Use communication skills to speak the “language” of business
and entrepreneurship
• Motivated not to drop out – complete high school
• Encourage others to gain competence to achieve personal goals
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Provide a curriculum that is organized around the
fve entrepreneurial processes: Discovery, Concept
Development, Resourcing, Actualization, and
Harvesting. Offer suffcient depth to ensure successful
entrepreneurial performance as identifed in the
National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship
Education.
BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS
Use entrepreneurship as the real-world context to
demonstrate the importance of academic skills,
including math, science, communications, digital skills,
technology, geography, history, and more.
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS
Portray, in a realistic way, the relationship between risk
and reward in the entrepreneurial process as it operates
in the free-enterprise system. Provide opportunities to
understand basic economic concepts such as savings,
interest, supply and demand, and more.
PERSONAL INTEREST AND INVESTMENT
Provide opportunities for students to start and operate
enterprises of an appropriate size and scope, in which
they are personally invested, and in a manner that is
signifcant to them.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Reinforce the concept that successful entrepreneurs
take calculated risks based on sound research and
relevant information, including economic analysis.
BUSINESS PLANNING
Require students to develop a comprehensive
business plan that addresses its fnancial, marketing,
and operational aspects.
CAREER GUIDANCE
Generate an understanding of the many career felds
that offer entrepreneurial opportunities. Opportunities
abound for entrepreneurial thinkers in all sectors and
industries, whether starting or managing a business, or
as employees offering new ideas and approaches.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Emphasize the need to operate enterprises and
organizations in a legal, ethical, and socially and
environmentally responsible manner.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE
Demonstrate the place for entrepreneurship in school-
to-career transition, community service, and economic
development strategies, as students become involved
in for-proft, not-for-proft, and public sectors of the
economy.
Methods
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship
Education
role-playing, guest speakers, mentors, advisors,
role models, feld trips, computer-based training,
and more.
LIFELONG LEARNING MODEL FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process that
has at least fve distinct stages of development, as
outlined in the chart below. Entrepreneurial skills
can be fostered throughout all levels of education
from elementary to adult. Learning outcomes are
adjusted for each level as students mature and build
on previous knowledge.
FACILITATING AND COACHING
Instructors should position themselves, not as
the providers of knowledge, but as facilitators of
learning, whose role is to build knowledge in their
students; facilitate the discovery process and provide
coaching to guide students to solutions; and allow
them to choose their own paths and to learn from
their own mistakes and successes.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Entrepreneurs are not born; rather, they become
through the experiences of their lives. Provide
hands-on learning opportunities where students
actively learn by doing. Personalize the learning
experience for each student whenever possible to
build emotional equity in the learning process and
ownership of the outcome.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Entrepreneurial thinkers are good problem-solvers.
Curriculum should provide the opportunity to tackle
both simple and complex problems. Activities
should include challenges with and without clear
solutions.
STUDENTS AS LEADERS
Wherever possible, students should be
provided the responsibility to lead
their own inquiry-based learning
opportunities. Such student-directed
activities may include planning,
creating, and operating businesses,
feld trips, negotiation exercises,
and group problem-solving.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Involve individuals from the surrounding
community to serve as guest speakers,
mentors, advisors, and role models.
VARIETY OF METHODS
Use a variety of methods to facilitate the
learning process with a focus on higher-
level learning, including books, courses,
seminars, research, group learning,
© 2004 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
S
t
a
r
t
-
U
p
G
r
o
w
t
h
Stage
5
Stage
4
• solve business problems effectively
• expand existing business
• become self-employed
• develop polices and
procedures for a new or
existing business
B
a
s
i
c
s
C
o
m
p
e
t
e
n
c
y
A
w
a
r
e
n
e
s
s
• learn entrepreneurship competencies
• apply specifc occupational training
• learn how to create new businesses
• discover entrepreneurship competencies
• understand problems of employers
• gain prerequisite basic skills
• identify career options
• understand economics and free enterprise
Stage
3
Stage
2
Stage
1
C
r
e
a
t
i
v
e
A
p
p
l
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
Job Experience Job Training & Education
Concepts
that Facilitate
Entrepreneurial
Thinking
Outcomes
from Encouraging
Entrepreneurship
THE BIG PICTURE
Entrepreneurship education is a lifelong learning process
that takes many different forms at all levels of education and
training. It delivers positive outcomes at all levels, with the
common outcome being experience that develops expertise for
entrepreneurial success.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Allow students to recognize opportunities to create and build something
from practically nothing.
• Enable students to realize that they have self-employment options as well
as those involving working for others.
• Encourage big dreams, build skills, and enable students to catch the vision,
see the opportunity, and create a way to use their talents and skills.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Instructors should act as facilitators and coaches, rather than
providers of knowledge.
• Apply experiential and problem-based learning approaches.
• Use diverse strategies that encourage the entrepreneurial spirit
to emerge.
“Effective entrepreneurship education prepares people
to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become
entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute
to economic development and sustainable communities.”
Entrepreneurship education goes beyond business ownership.
Entrepreneurship education benefts everyone by fostering a
fundamental understanding of business, free market economies,
and the skills and confdence needed for personal and
community success.
Entrepreneurial thinkers make better employees; they make
better government workers, better public representatives, better
leaders, and, of course, better business owners.
The National Standards of Practice are intended to provide
encouragement and ideas to facilitate entrepreneurship education
and the structure to assure a consistent and high-quality result.
The National Standards of Practice complement the National
Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education, which
provide additional detail with performance indicators.
Why is Entrepreneurship
Education Important?
Entrepreneurship is a key driver
of our economy. Wealth and a
high majority of jobs are created
by small businesses started
by entrepreneurially minded
individuals, many of whom go on
to create big businesses. People
exposed to entrepreneurship
frequently express that they have
more opportunity to exercise
creative freedoms, higher self-
esteem, and an overall greater
sense of control over their own
lives. As a result, many experienced
businesspeople, political leaders,
economists, and educators
believe that fostering a robust
entrepreneurial culture will
maximize individual and collective
economic and social success on a
local, national, and global scale.
The National Federation of
Independent Business states:
“Publicly recognizing the critical
role played in our country by
today’s entrepreneurs helps to
encourage others to join their
ranks in the future. The
economic strength of the U.S. will
beneft greatly as a result.”
The Partnership for 21st Century
Skills advocates Entrepreneurship
K-12 as a content area: “Developing
entrepreneurial skills to enhance
workplace productivity and career
options.”
What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build something from
practically nothing.
• It is initiating, doing, achieving and building an enterprise or organization,
rather than just watching, analyzing, or describing one.
• It is the knack for sensing an opportunity where others see chaos,
contradiction and confusion.
• It is the ability to build a “founding team” to complement your own skills
and talents.
• It is the know-how to fnd, marshal and control resources (often owned
by others) and to make sure you don’t run out of money when you need
it most.
• Finally, it is the willingness to take calculated risks, both personal and
fnancial, and then do everything possible to get the odds in your favor.
Defnition courtesy of
Jeffrey Timmons, Babson College
Positive Outcomes for All Students
• Increased sense of “locus of control”
• Greater awareness of personal talents and skills
• Improved school attendance
• Higher academic achievement
• Apply enhanced creativity skills in business situations
• Enhanced business opportunity recognition skills
• Handle business situations ethically
• Use problem solving skills effectively
• Understand steps essential in business startup
• Enhanced awareness of career and entrepreneurial options
• Use strategies for idea generation and assessment of feasibility
of ideas
• Understanding of basic free market economy
• Enhanced basic fnancial concepts
• Increased awareness of the entrepreneur’s role in the economy
• Expanded awareness of social responsibility & entrepreneurs
contribution to society
• Greater likelihood of graduating to next education level
Positive Outcomes for Post Secondary and Adult
• Enhanced personal and career goals and attitudes
• Improved self-management skills because of focus on personal
responsibility
• Enhanced ability to pursue additional training or access other
resources and services
• Improved problem identifcation and solving skills for business
operations issues
• Enhanced self-worth through understanding of personal
capabilities
• Enhanced reliance on teamwork as focus to solve realistic and
complicated problems
• Ability to pursue entrepreneurship as a means of making a living
• Improved business startup planning and management skills
• Ability to follow a business plan to achieve business goals
• Demonstrate business management/operation skills to maintain
business longevity
• Demonstrate fnancial management and application of basic
accounting principles
• Rethinking of business closings as an exit strategy versus failure
• Transfer of learning from academic concepts to real situations
in life
• Enhanced self-awareness and motivation as focus on personal
goals are stressed
• Improved interpersonal communications to focus business
messages
• Engage in ethical business applications/practices
Positive Outcomes for Elementary School
• Improved focus on personal goals
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Improved economic literacy
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
Positive Outcomes for Middle School
• Improved basic academic skills - 4 Rs
• Increased self-esteem and respect for others
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Increased workplace literacy awareness
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
• Enhanced personal development by focusing on risk-taking and
learning from failure
• Improved ability to identify and recognize business
opportunities
• Improved understanding of free markets and opportunity cost
• Understand the entrepreneurship business planning process
• Learn how to earn money and make it work for oneself
• Embrace diversity through enhanced socialization skills
• Improved confict resolution, negotiation, sales, marketing, and
persuasion skills
• Motivated not to drop out – advance to high school
Positive Outcomes for High School
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Ability to use communication and planning skills to write
business plans
• Apply free market economic principles in personal life
• Decrease in substance abuse
• Use math and communications skills in real-world applications
• Apply computer skills in business applications
• Continue to focus and review individual entrepreneurial interests
• Enhance application of technical skills in entrepreneurial contexts
• Apply basic marketing skills easily in business situations
• Translate problems into acceptable opportunities
• Manage risk so that challenges are acceptable
• Identify legitimate sources of capital for advancing their dreams
• Evaluate ownership structures for businesses effectively
• Apply principles of human relations management
• Use communication skills to speak the “language” of business
and entrepreneurship
• Motivated not to drop out – complete high school
• Encourage others to gain competence to achieve personal goals
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Provide a curriculum that is organized around the
fve entrepreneurial processes: Discovery, Concept
Development, Resourcing, Actualization, and
Harvesting. Offer suffcient depth to ensure successful
entrepreneurial performance as identifed in the
National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship
Education.
BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS
Use entrepreneurship as the real-world context to
demonstrate the importance of academic skills,
including math, science, communications, digital skills,
technology, geography, history, and more.
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS
Portray, in a realistic way, the relationship between risk
and reward in the entrepreneurial process as it operates
in the free-enterprise system. Provide opportunities to
understand basic economic concepts such as savings,
interest, supply and demand, and more.
PERSONAL INTEREST AND INVESTMENT
Provide opportunities for students to start and operate
enterprises of an appropriate size and scope, in which
they are personally invested, and in a manner that is
signifcant to them.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Reinforce the concept that successful entrepreneurs
take calculated risks based on sound research and
relevant information, including economic analysis.
BUSINESS PLANNING
Require students to develop a comprehensive
business plan that addresses its fnancial, marketing,
and operational aspects.
CAREER GUIDANCE
Generate an understanding of the many career felds
that offer entrepreneurial opportunities. Opportunities
abound for entrepreneurial thinkers in all sectors and
industries, whether starting or managing a business, or
as employees offering new ideas and approaches.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Emphasize the need to operate enterprises and
organizations in a legal, ethical, and socially and
environmentally responsible manner.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE
Demonstrate the place for entrepreneurship in school-
to-career transition, community service, and economic
development strategies, as students become involved
in for-proft, not-for-proft, and public sectors of the
economy.
Methods
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship
Education
role-playing, guest speakers, mentors, advisors,
role models, feld trips, computer-based training,
and more.
LIFELONG LEARNING MODEL FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process that
has at least fve distinct stages of development, as
outlined in the chart below. Entrepreneurial skills
can be fostered throughout all levels of education
from elementary to adult. Learning outcomes are
adjusted for each level as students mature and build
on previous knowledge.
FACILITATING AND COACHING
Instructors should position themselves, not as
the providers of knowledge, but as facilitators of
learning, whose role is to build knowledge in their
students; facilitate the discovery process and provide
coaching to guide students to solutions; and allow
them to choose their own paths and to learn from
their own mistakes and successes.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Entrepreneurs are not born; rather, they become
through the experiences of their lives. Provide
hands-on learning opportunities where students
actively learn by doing. Personalize the learning
experience for each student whenever possible to
build emotional equity in the learning process and
ownership of the outcome.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Entrepreneurial thinkers are good problem-solvers.
Curriculum should provide the opportunity to tackle
both simple and complex problems. Activities
should include challenges with and without clear
solutions.
STUDENTS AS LEADERS
Wherever possible, students should be
provided the responsibility to lead
their own inquiry-based learning
opportunities. Such student-directed
activities may include planning,
creating, and operating businesses,
feld trips, negotiation exercises,
and group problem-solving.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Involve individuals from the surrounding
community to serve as guest speakers,
mentors, advisors, and role models.
VARIETY OF METHODS
Use a variety of methods to facilitate the
learning process with a focus on higher-
level learning, including books, courses,
seminars, research, group learning,
© 2004 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
S
t
a
r
t
-
U
p
G
r
o
w
t
h
Stage
5
Stage
4
• solve business problems effectively
• expand existing business
• become self-employed
• develop polices and
procedures for a new or
existing business
B
a
s
i
c
s
C
o
m
p
e
t
e
n
c
y
A
w
a
r
e
n
e
s
s
• learn entrepreneurship competencies
• apply specifc occupational training
• learn how to create new businesses
• discover entrepreneurship competencies
• understand problems of employers
• gain prerequisite basic skills
• identify career options
• understand economics and free enterprise
Stage
3
Stage
2
Stage
1
C
r
e
a
t
i
v
e
A
p
p
l
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
Job Experience Job Training & Education
Concepts
that Facilitate
Entrepreneurial
Thinking
Outcomes
from Encouraging
Entrepreneurship
THE BIG PICTURE
Entrepreneurship education is a lifelong learning process
that takes many different forms at all levels of education and
training. It delivers positive outcomes at all levels, with the
common outcome being experience that develops expertise for
entrepreneurial success.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Allow students to recognize opportunities to create and build something
from practically nothing.
• Enable students to realize that they have self-employment options as well
as those involving working for others.
• Encourage big dreams, build skills, and enable students to catch the vision,
see the opportunity, and create a way to use their talents and skills.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Instructors should act as facilitators and coaches, rather than
providers of knowledge.
• Apply experiential and problem-based learning approaches.
• Use diverse strategies that encourage the entrepreneurial spirit
to emerge.
“Effective entrepreneurship education prepares people
to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become
entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute
to economic development and sustainable communities.”
Entrepreneurship education goes beyond business ownership.
Entrepreneurship education benefts everyone by fostering a
fundamental understanding of business, free market economies,
and the skills and confdence needed for personal and
community success.
Entrepreneurial thinkers make better employees; they make
better government workers, better public representatives, better
leaders, and, of course, better business owners.
The National Standards of Practice are intended to provide
encouragement and ideas to facilitate entrepreneurship education
and the structure to assure a consistent and high-quality result.
The National Standards of Practice complement the National
Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education, which
provide additional detail with performance indicators.
Why is Entrepreneurship
Education Important?
Entrepreneurship is a key driver
of our economy. Wealth and a
high majority of jobs are created
by small businesses started
by entrepreneurially minded
individuals, many of whom go on
to create big businesses. People
exposed to entrepreneurship
frequently express that they have
more opportunity to exercise
creative freedoms, higher self-
esteem, and an overall greater
sense of control over their own
lives. As a result, many experienced
businesspeople, political leaders,
economists, and educators
believe that fostering a robust
entrepreneurial culture will
maximize individual and collective
economic and social success on a
local, national, and global scale.
The National Federation of
Independent Business states:
“Publicly recognizing the critical
role played in our country by
today’s entrepreneurs helps to
encourage others to join their
ranks in the future. The
economic strength of the U.S. will
beneft greatly as a result.”
The Partnership for 21st Century
Skills advocates Entrepreneurship
K-12 as a content area: “Developing
entrepreneurial skills to enhance
workplace productivity and career
options.”
What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build something from
practically nothing.
• It is initiating, doing, achieving and building an enterprise or organization,
rather than just watching, analyzing, or describing one.
• It is the knack for sensing an opportunity where others see chaos,
contradiction and confusion.
• It is the ability to build a “founding team” to complement your own skills
and talents.
• It is the know-how to fnd, marshal and control resources (often owned
by others) and to make sure you don’t run out of money when you need
it most.
• Finally, it is the willingness to take calculated risks, both personal and
fnancial, and then do everything possible to get the odds in your favor.
Defnition courtesy of
Jeffrey Timmons, Babson College
Positive Outcomes for All Students
• Increased sense of “locus of control”
• Greater awareness of personal talents and skills
• Improved school attendance
• Higher academic achievement
• Apply enhanced creativity skills in business situations
• Enhanced business opportunity recognition skills
• Handle business situations ethically
• Use problem solving skills effectively
• Understand steps essential in business startup
• Enhanced awareness of career and entrepreneurial options
• Use strategies for idea generation and assessment of feasibility
of ideas
• Understanding of basic free market economy
• Enhanced basic fnancial concepts
• Increased awareness of the entrepreneur’s role in the economy
• Expanded awareness of social responsibility & entrepreneurs
contribution to society
• Greater likelihood of graduating to next education level
Positive Outcomes for Post Secondary and Adult
• Enhanced personal and career goals and attitudes
• Improved self-management skills because of focus on personal
responsibility
• Enhanced ability to pursue additional training or access other
resources and services
• Improved problem identifcation and solving skills for business
operations issues
• Enhanced self-worth through understanding of personal
capabilities
• Enhanced reliance on teamwork as focus to solve realistic and
complicated problems
• Ability to pursue entrepreneurship as a means of making a living
• Improved business startup planning and management skills
• Ability to follow a business plan to achieve business goals
• Demonstrate business management/operation skills to maintain
business longevity
• Demonstrate fnancial management and application of basic
accounting principles
• Rethinking of business closings as an exit strategy versus failure
• Transfer of learning from academic concepts to real situations
in life
• Enhanced self-awareness and motivation as focus on personal
goals are stressed
• Improved interpersonal communications to focus business
messages
• Engage in ethical business applications/practices
Positive Outcomes for Elementary School
• Improved focus on personal goals
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Improved economic literacy
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
Positive Outcomes for Middle School
• Improved basic academic skills - 4 Rs
• Increased self-esteem and respect for others
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Increased workplace literacy awareness
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
• Enhanced personal development by focusing on risk-taking and
learning from failure
• Improved ability to identify and recognize business
opportunities
• Improved understanding of free markets and opportunity cost
• Understand the entrepreneurship business planning process
• Learn how to earn money and make it work for oneself
• Embrace diversity through enhanced socialization skills
• Improved confict resolution, negotiation, sales, marketing, and
persuasion skills
• Motivated not to drop out – advance to high school
Positive Outcomes for High School
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Ability to use communication and planning skills to write
business plans
• Apply free market economic principles in personal life
• Decrease in substance abuse
• Use math and communications skills in real-world applications
• Apply computer skills in business applications
• Continue to focus and review individual entrepreneurial interests
• Enhance application of technical skills in entrepreneurial contexts
• Apply basic marketing skills easily in business situations
• Translate problems into acceptable opportunities
• Manage risk so that challenges are acceptable
• Identify legitimate sources of capital for advancing their dreams
• Evaluate ownership structures for businesses effectively
• Apply principles of human relations management
• Use communication skills to speak the “language” of business
and entrepreneurship
• Motivated not to drop out – complete high school
• Encourage others to gain competence to achieve personal goals
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Provide a curriculum that is organized around the
fve entrepreneurial processes: Discovery, Concept
Development, Resourcing, Actualization, and
Harvesting. Offer suffcient depth to ensure successful
entrepreneurial performance as identifed in the
National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship
Education.
BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS
Use entrepreneurship as the real-world context to
demonstrate the importance of academic skills,
including math, science, communications, digital skills,
technology, geography, history, and more.
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS
Portray, in a realistic way, the relationship between risk
and reward in the entrepreneurial process as it operates
in the free-enterprise system. Provide opportunities to
understand basic economic concepts such as savings,
interest, supply and demand, and more.
PERSONAL INTEREST AND INVESTMENT
Provide opportunities for students to start and operate
enterprises of an appropriate size and scope, in which
they are personally invested, and in a manner that is
signifcant to them.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Reinforce the concept that successful entrepreneurs
take calculated risks based on sound research and
relevant information, including economic analysis.
BUSINESS PLANNING
Require students to develop a comprehensive
business plan that addresses its fnancial, marketing,
and operational aspects.
CAREER GUIDANCE
Generate an understanding of the many career felds
that offer entrepreneurial opportunities. Opportunities
abound for entrepreneurial thinkers in all sectors and
industries, whether starting or managing a business, or
as employees offering new ideas and approaches.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Emphasize the need to operate enterprises and
organizations in a legal, ethical, and socially and
environmentally responsible manner.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE
Demonstrate the place for entrepreneurship in school-
to-career transition, community service, and economic
development strategies, as students become involved
in for-proft, not-for-proft, and public sectors of the
economy.
Methods
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship
Education
role-playing, guest speakers, mentors, advisors,
role models, feld trips, computer-based training,
and more.
LIFELONG LEARNING MODEL FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process that
has at least fve distinct stages of development, as
outlined in the chart below. Entrepreneurial skills
can be fostered throughout all levels of education
from elementary to adult. Learning outcomes are
adjusted for each level as students mature and build
on previous knowledge.
FACILITATING AND COACHING
Instructors should position themselves, not as
the providers of knowledge, but as facilitators of
learning, whose role is to build knowledge in their
students; facilitate the discovery process and provide
coaching to guide students to solutions; and allow
them to choose their own paths and to learn from
their own mistakes and successes.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Entrepreneurs are not born; rather, they become
through the experiences of their lives. Provide
hands-on learning opportunities where students
actively learn by doing. Personalize the learning
experience for each student whenever possible to
build emotional equity in the learning process and
ownership of the outcome.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Entrepreneurial thinkers are good problem-solvers.
Curriculum should provide the opportunity to tackle
both simple and complex problems. Activities
should include challenges with and without clear
solutions.
STUDENTS AS LEADERS
Wherever possible, students should be
provided the responsibility to lead
their own inquiry-based learning
opportunities. Such student-directed
activities may include planning,
creating, and operating businesses,
feld trips, negotiation exercises,
and group problem-solving.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Involve individuals from the surrounding
community to serve as guest speakers,
mentors, advisors, and role models.
VARIETY OF METHODS
Use a variety of methods to facilitate the
learning process with a focus on higher-
level learning, including books, courses,
seminars, research, group learning,
© 2004 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
S
t
a
r
t
-
U
p
G
r
o
w
t
h
Stage
5
Stage
4
• solve business problems effectively
• expand existing business
• become self-employed
• develop polices and
procedures for a new or
existing business
B
a
s
i
c
s
C
o
m
p
e
t
e
n
c
y
A
w
a
r
e
n
e
s
s
• learn entrepreneurship competencies
• apply specifc occupational training
• learn how to create new businesses
• discover entrepreneurship competencies
• understand problems of employers
• gain prerequisite basic skills
• identify career options
• understand economics and free enterprise
Stage
3
Stage
2
Stage
1
C
r
e
a
t
i
v
e
A
p
p
l
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
Job Experience Job Training & Education
Concepts
that Facilitate
Entrepreneurial
Thinking
Outcomes
from Encouraging
Entrepreneurship
THE BIG PICTURE
Entrepreneurship education is a lifelong learning process
that takes many different forms at all levels of education and
training. It delivers positive outcomes at all levels, with the
common outcome being experience that develops expertise for
entrepreneurial success.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Allow students to recognize opportunities to create and build something
from practically nothing.
• Enable students to realize that they have self-employment options as well
as those involving working for others.
• Encourage big dreams, build skills, and enable students to catch the vision,
see the opportunity, and create a way to use their talents and skills.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Instructors should act as facilitators and coaches, rather than
providers of knowledge.
• Apply experiential and problem-based learning approaches.
• Use diverse strategies that encourage the entrepreneurial spirit
to emerge.
“Effective entrepreneurship education prepares people
to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become
entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute
to economic development and sustainable communities.”
Entrepreneurship education goes beyond business ownership.
Entrepreneurship education benefts everyone by fostering a
fundamental understanding of business, free market economies,
and the skills and confdence needed for personal and
community success.
Entrepreneurial thinkers make better employees; they make
better government workers, better public representatives, better
leaders, and, of course, better business owners.
The National Standards of Practice are intended to provide
encouragement and ideas to facilitate entrepreneurship education
and the structure to assure a consistent and high-quality result.
The National Standards of Practice complement the National
Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education, which
provide additional detail with performance indicators.
Why is Entrepreneurship
Education Important?
Entrepreneurship is a key driver
of our economy. Wealth and a
high majority of jobs are created
by small businesses started
by entrepreneurially minded
individuals, many of whom go on
to create big businesses. People
exposed to entrepreneurship
frequently express that they have
more opportunity to exercise
creative freedoms, higher self-
esteem, and an overall greater
sense of control over their own
lives. As a result, many experienced
businesspeople, political leaders,
economists, and educators
believe that fostering a robust
entrepreneurial culture will
maximize individual and collective
economic and social success on a
local, national, and global scale.
The National Federation of
Independent Business states:
“Publicly recognizing the critical
role played in our country by
today’s entrepreneurs helps to
encourage others to join their
ranks in the future. The
economic strength of the U.S. will
beneft greatly as a result.”
The Partnership for 21st Century
Skills advocates Entrepreneurship
K-12 as a content area: “Developing
entrepreneurial skills to enhance
workplace productivity and career
options.”
What is Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship is the ability to create and build something from
practically nothing.
• It is initiating, doing, achieving and building an enterprise or organization,
rather than just watching, analyzing, or describing one.
• It is the knack for sensing an opportunity where others see chaos,
contradiction and confusion.
• It is the ability to build a “founding team” to complement your own skills
and talents.
• It is the know-how to fnd, marshal and control resources (often owned
by others) and to make sure you don’t run out of money when you need
it most.
• Finally, it is the willingness to take calculated risks, both personal and
fnancial, and then do everything possible to get the odds in your favor.
Defnition courtesy of
Jeffrey Timmons, Babson College
Positive Outcomes for All Students
• Increased sense of “locus of control”
• Greater awareness of personal talents and skills
• Improved school attendance
• Higher academic achievement
• Apply enhanced creativity skills in business situations
• Enhanced business opportunity recognition skills
• Handle business situations ethically
• Use problem solving skills effectively
• Understand steps essential in business startup
• Enhanced awareness of career and entrepreneurial options
• Use strategies for idea generation and assessment of feasibility
of ideas
• Understanding of basic free market economy
• Enhanced basic fnancial concepts
• Increased awareness of the entrepreneur’s role in the economy
• Expanded awareness of social responsibility & entrepreneurs
contribution to society
• Greater likelihood of graduating to next education level
Positive Outcomes for Post Secondary and Adult
• Enhanced personal and career goals and attitudes
• Improved self-management skills because of focus on personal
responsibility
• Enhanced ability to pursue additional training or access other
resources and services
• Improved problem identifcation and solving skills for business
operations issues
• Enhanced self-worth through understanding of personal
capabilities
• Enhanced reliance on teamwork as focus to solve realistic and
complicated problems
• Ability to pursue entrepreneurship as a means of making a living
• Improved business startup planning and management skills
• Ability to follow a business plan to achieve business goals
• Demonstrate business management/operation skills to maintain
business longevity
• Demonstrate fnancial management and application of basic
accounting principles
• Rethinking of business closings as an exit strategy versus failure
• Transfer of learning from academic concepts to real situations
in life
• Enhanced self-awareness and motivation as focus on personal
goals are stressed
• Improved interpersonal communications to focus business
messages
• Engage in ethical business applications/practices
Positive Outcomes for Elementary School
• Improved focus on personal goals
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Improved economic literacy
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
Positive Outcomes for Middle School
• Improved basic academic skills - 4 Rs
• Increased self-esteem and respect for others
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Increased workplace literacy awareness
• Become more educated, empowered consumers
• Enhanced personal development by focusing on risk-taking and
learning from failure
• Improved ability to identify and recognize business
opportunities
• Improved understanding of free markets and opportunity cost
• Understand the entrepreneurship business planning process
• Learn how to earn money and make it work for oneself
• Embrace diversity through enhanced socialization skills
• Improved confict resolution, negotiation, sales, marketing, and
persuasion skills
• Motivated not to drop out – advance to high school
Positive Outcomes for High School
• Fewer school discipline referrals
• Ability to use communication and planning skills to write
business plans
• Apply free market economic principles in personal life
• Decrease in substance abuse
• Use math and communications skills in real-world applications
• Apply computer skills in business applications
• Continue to focus and review individual entrepreneurial interests
• Enhance application of technical skills in entrepreneurial contexts
• Apply basic marketing skills easily in business situations
• Translate problems into acceptable opportunities
• Manage risk so that challenges are acceptable
• Identify legitimate sources of capital for advancing their dreams
• Evaluate ownership structures for businesses effectively
• Apply principles of human relations management
• Use communication skills to speak the “language” of business
and entrepreneurship
• Motivated not to drop out – complete high school
• Encourage others to gain competence to achieve personal goals
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Provide a curriculum that is organized around the
fve entrepreneurial processes: Discovery, Concept
Development, Resourcing, Actualization, and
Harvesting. Offer suffcient depth to ensure successful
entrepreneurial performance as identifed in the
National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship
Education.
BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS
Use entrepreneurship as the real-world context to
demonstrate the importance of academic skills,
including math, science, communications, digital skills,
technology, geography, history, and more.
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS
Portray, in a realistic way, the relationship between risk
and reward in the entrepreneurial process as it operates
in the free-enterprise system. Provide opportunities to
understand basic economic concepts such as savings,
interest, supply and demand, and more.
PERSONAL INTEREST AND INVESTMENT
Provide opportunities for students to start and operate
enterprises of an appropriate size and scope, in which
they are personally invested, and in a manner that is
signifcant to them.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Reinforce the concept that successful entrepreneurs
take calculated risks based on sound research and
relevant information, including economic analysis.
BUSINESS PLANNING
Require students to develop a comprehensive
business plan that addresses its fnancial, marketing,
and operational aspects.
CAREER GUIDANCE
Generate an understanding of the many career felds
that offer entrepreneurial opportunities. Opportunities
abound for entrepreneurial thinkers in all sectors and
industries, whether starting or managing a business, or
as employees offering new ideas and approaches.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Emphasize the need to operate enterprises and
organizations in a legal, ethical, and socially and
environmentally responsible manner.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE
Demonstrate the place for entrepreneurship in school-
to-career transition, community service, and economic
development strategies, as students become involved
in for-proft, not-for-proft, and public sectors of the
economy.
Methods
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship
Education
role-playing, guest speakers, mentors, advisors,
role models, feld trips, computer-based training,
and more.
LIFELONG LEARNING MODEL FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process that
has at least fve distinct stages of development, as
outlined in the chart below. Entrepreneurial skills
can be fostered throughout all levels of education
from elementary to adult. Learning outcomes are
adjusted for each level as students mature and build
on previous knowledge.
FACILITATING AND COACHING
Instructors should position themselves, not as
the providers of knowledge, but as facilitators of
learning, whose role is to build knowledge in their
students; facilitate the discovery process and provide
coaching to guide students to solutions; and allow
them to choose their own paths and to learn from
their own mistakes and successes.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Entrepreneurs are not born; rather, they become
through the experiences of their lives. Provide
hands-on learning opportunities where students
actively learn by doing. Personalize the learning
experience for each student whenever possible to
build emotional equity in the learning process and
ownership of the outcome.
PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Entrepreneurial thinkers are good problem-solvers.
Curriculum should provide the opportunity to tackle
both simple and complex problems. Activities
should include challenges with and without clear
solutions.
STUDENTS AS LEADERS
Wherever possible, students should be
provided the responsibility to lead
their own inquiry-based learning
opportunities. Such student-directed
activities may include planning,
creating, and operating businesses,
feld trips, negotiation exercises,
and group problem-solving.
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
Involve individuals from the surrounding
community to serve as guest speakers,
mentors, advisors, and role models.
VARIETY OF METHODS
Use a variety of methods to facilitate the
learning process with a focus on higher-
level learning, including books, courses,
seminars, research, group learning,
© 2004 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
S
t
a
r
t
-
U
p
G
r
o
w
t
h
Stage
5
Stage
4
• solve business problems effectively
• expand existing business
• become self-employed
• develop polices and
procedures for a new or
existing business
B
a
s
i
c
s
C
o
m
p
e
t
e
n
c
y
A
w
a
r
e
n
e
s
s
• learn entrepreneurship competencies
• apply specifc occupational training
• learn how to create new businesses
• discover entrepreneurship competencies
• understand problems of employers
• gain prerequisite basic skills
• identify career options
• understand economics and free enterprise
Stage
3
Stage
2
Stage
1
C
r
e
a
t
i
v
e
A
p
p
l
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
Job Experience Job Training & Education
National Standards of Practice
for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
NATIONAL CONTENT STANDARDS FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
In 2005, the frst-ever National Content Standards
for Entrepreneurship Education were launched by
the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
This unique defnition of the feld of
entrepreneurship education as a whole was the
result of asking entrepreneurs what they do and
what one needs to know to do it. The resulting
403 performance indicators and benchmarks are
available to help guide educators in building a
curriculum.
The Content Standards apply for all grades and all
ages. This includes elementary school — where
entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged through
creative thinking activities and where the concept
of business ownership is applied within the context
of academic skills — and university and adult
levels, where problem-solving and higher order
activities are practiced by those studying business
or already in business. Quality entrepreneurship
programs will use Content Standards as a
foundation. Review additional details on the next
page and visit the Consortium website to access the
free toolkit today!
WEBSITE – www.entre-ed.org
Visit the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date
information, resources, curriculum samples, and
training opportunities. The website is freely
available and provides the ideal starting point for
those interested in entrepreneurship education.
SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EDUCATION
Under the leadership of the Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education, members and associates
can participate in a number of support initiatives,
including:
• Building support for a National Entrepreneurship
Week that will help Americans focus on
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education as
resources critical to the economy of the future.
• The annual Entrepreneurship Education Forum
that features presentations and workshops on
innovative entrepreneurship programs, resource
exhibits, and networking opportunities.
• Online training seminars for teachers on a variety
of entrepreneurship education-related topics.
Opportunities for teachers to obtain funding
grants to build new and innovative teaching
strategies, resources, and programs.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is recognized as the
national leader in advocating entrepreneurship education as a lifelong
learning process. The Consortium champions entrepreneurship education
and provides advocacy, leadership, networking, technical assistance, and
resources across all levels and disciplines of education, promoting quality
practices and programs.
The Consortium is a national membership organization for leaders
advocating entrepreneurship education, composed of national, state,
and local education agencies and organizations.
Membership is available for all – contact us for details.
About
Accountability
Encourages Success
THE BIG PICTURE
• Align entrepreneurship education efforts with the objectives of your
organization and focus on providing positive benefts for all stakeholders.
• Use qualifed personnel within a supportive and rewarding environment.
• Apply quality standards, frequent evaluation, and continuous
improvement.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Apply the National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education.
• Use the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date information, resources,
and training.
• Connect with Entrepreneurship Education leaders in your region,
nationally, and internationally.
For information contact:
The Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199,
Columbus, OH 43212 USA
Cathy Ashmore, Executive Director
Tel 614-486-6538
[email protected]
Join us!
Facilitate student motivation
Enhance opportunities for work and life
Increase invention and innovation
Strengthen economies
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education is a non-proft (501 C-3) corporation
including over 80 organizations at local, state and
national levels that champion entrepreneurship
education as a lifelong learning process
throughout America.
The Consortium has a variety of member
organizations, all of which provide leadership
in diverse settings, including those who
design curriculum and establish education
policy at the state level, teachers/leaders in
the K-12 educational system, community/
technical colleges and universities, community
based organizations that provide economic
development opportunities through preparing
entrepreneurs, and foundations focused on
improving education through entrepreneurship.
www.entre-ed.org
Resources
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship Education
National Content Standards for
Entrepreneurship Education
There are ffteen major standards, which are
divided into the following three major sections:
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
The unique traits, behaviors and processes that
differentiate an entrepreneur from an employee
or manager.
READY SKILLS
The business, or entrepreneurial, knowledge
and skills that are prerequisites or co-requisites
for the study of entrepreneurship.
BUSINESS FUNCTIONS
The business activities performed in starting
and running a business.
ENTREPRENEURS TELL US THAT the
Entrepreneur Skills build upon both the
Ready Skills and the Business Functions. The
Entrepreneur Skills include the process, traits
and behaviors applicable to new ventures
and ongoing ventures that create, drive, and
change economic activity - new markets, new
products, new businesses, and more. These
non-sequential, often overlapping, stages of
the entrepreneurial process are:
DISCOVERY
Where the entrepreneur generates ideas,
recognizes opportunities, and determines the
feasibility of ideas, markets, ventures, etc.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Where the entrepreneur plans the venture,
identifes needed resources using a business
plan, identifes strategies to protect intellectual
property, etc.
RESOURCING
Where the entrepreneur identifes and acquires
the fnancial, human, and capital resources
needed for the venture startup, etc.
ACTUALIZATION
Where the entrepreneur operates the venture
and utilizes resources to achieve its goals and
objectives.
HARVESTING
Where the entrepreneur decides on the
venture’s future (growth, development, demise).
POSITIVE BENEFITS
Establish measurable outcomes that focus on providing
value for all stakeholders.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Document, refect, measure, and evaluate programs and
learning outcomes. Practice continuous improvement
and frequently measure results and impact.
DIVERSITY IN PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Seek to include people of all backgrounds in the
program, as instructors, leaders, and mentors to
enhance and expand program design and delivery.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Be the model of responsible entrepreneurship that
you wish to instill in students, by acting ethically
as an initiator of change within your institution or
community.
ORGANIZATION VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS
Entrepreneurship education can be implemented
in all types of organizations, from public schools,
community-based organizations, economic
development incubators, community colleges,
universities, and more. Seek to align entrepreneurship
education efforts with your organization’s underlying
values and direction.
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT
Ensure that individuals designing and delivering
entrepreneurship education programs are appropriately
qualifed with suffcient credentials and/or experience.
Support them with the resources, training, guidance,
and encouragement needed to maximize success.
QUALITY STANDARDS
Align with available content standards to provide
a curriculum framework that is both thorough and
focuses on the right learning outcomes.
National Standards of Practice
for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
NATIONAL CONTENT STANDARDS FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
In 2005, the frst-ever National Content Standards
for Entrepreneurship Education were launched by
the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
This unique defnition of the feld of
entrepreneurship education as a whole was the
result of asking entrepreneurs what they do and
what one needs to know to do it. The resulting
403 performance indicators and benchmarks are
available to help guide educators in building a
curriculum.
The Content Standards apply for all grades and all
ages. This includes elementary school — where
entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged through
creative thinking activities and where the concept
of business ownership is applied within the context
of academic skills — and university and adult
levels, where problem-solving and higher order
activities are practiced by those studying business
or already in business. Quality entrepreneurship
programs will use Content Standards as a
foundation. Review additional details on the next
page and visit the Consortium website to access the
free toolkit today!
WEBSITE – www.entre-ed.org
Visit the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date
information, resources, curriculum samples, and
training opportunities. The website is freely
available and provides the ideal starting point for
those interested in entrepreneurship education.
SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EDUCATION
Under the leadership of the Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education, members and associates
can participate in a number of support initiatives,
including:
• Building support for a National Entrepreneurship
Week that will help Americans focus on
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education as
resources critical to the economy of the future.
• The annual Entrepreneurship Education Forum
that features presentations and workshops on
innovative entrepreneurship programs, resource
exhibits, and networking opportunities.
• Online training seminars for teachers on a variety
of entrepreneurship education-related topics.
Opportunities for teachers to obtain funding
grants to build new and innovative teaching
strategies, resources, and programs.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is recognized as the
national leader in advocating entrepreneurship education as a lifelong
learning process. The Consortium champions entrepreneurship education
and provides advocacy, leadership, networking, technical assistance, and
resources across all levels and disciplines of education, promoting quality
practices and programs.
The Consortium is a national membership organization for leaders
advocating entrepreneurship education, composed of national, state,
and local education agencies and organizations.
Membership is available for all – contact us for details.
About
Accountability
Encourages Success
THE BIG PICTURE
• Align entrepreneurship education efforts with the objectives of your
organization and focus on providing positive benefts for all stakeholders.
• Use qualifed personnel within a supportive and rewarding environment.
• Apply quality standards, frequent evaluation, and continuous
improvement.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Apply the National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education.
• Use the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date information, resources,
and training.
• Connect with Entrepreneurship Education leaders in your region,
nationally, and internationally.
For information contact:
The Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199,
Columbus, OH 43212 USA
Cathy Ashmore, Executive Director
Tel 614-486-6538
[email protected]
Join us!
Facilitate student motivation
Enhance opportunities for work and life
Increase invention and innovation
Strengthen economies
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education is a non-proft (501 C-3) corporation
including over 80 organizations at local, state and
national levels that champion entrepreneurship
education as a lifelong learning process
throughout America.
The Consortium has a variety of member
organizations, all of which provide leadership
in diverse settings, including those who
design curriculum and establish education
policy at the state level, teachers/leaders in
the K-12 educational system, community/
technical colleges and universities, community
based organizations that provide economic
development opportunities through preparing
entrepreneurs, and foundations focused on
improving education through entrepreneurship.
www.entre-ed.org
Resources
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship Education
National Content Standards for
Entrepreneurship Education
There are ffteen major standards, which are
divided into the following three major sections:
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
The unique traits, behaviors and processes that
differentiate an entrepreneur from an employee
or manager.
READY SKILLS
The business, or entrepreneurial, knowledge
and skills that are prerequisites or co-requisites
for the study of entrepreneurship.
BUSINESS FUNCTIONS
The business activities performed in starting
and running a business.
ENTREPRENEURS TELL US THAT the
Entrepreneur Skills build upon both the
Ready Skills and the Business Functions. The
Entrepreneur Skills include the process, traits
and behaviors applicable to new ventures
and ongoing ventures that create, drive, and
change economic activity - new markets, new
products, new businesses, and more. These
non-sequential, often overlapping, stages of
the entrepreneurial process are:
DISCOVERY
Where the entrepreneur generates ideas,
recognizes opportunities, and determines the
feasibility of ideas, markets, ventures, etc.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Where the entrepreneur plans the venture,
identifes needed resources using a business
plan, identifes strategies to protect intellectual
property, etc.
RESOURCING
Where the entrepreneur identifes and acquires
the fnancial, human, and capital resources
needed for the venture startup, etc.
ACTUALIZATION
Where the entrepreneur operates the venture
and utilizes resources to achieve its goals and
objectives.
HARVESTING
Where the entrepreneur decides on the
venture’s future (growth, development, demise).
POSITIVE BENEFITS
Establish measurable outcomes that focus on providing
value for all stakeholders.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Document, refect, measure, and evaluate programs and
learning outcomes. Practice continuous improvement
and frequently measure results and impact.
DIVERSITY IN PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Seek to include people of all backgrounds in the
program, as instructors, leaders, and mentors to
enhance and expand program design and delivery.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Be the model of responsible entrepreneurship that
you wish to instill in students, by acting ethically
as an initiator of change within your institution or
community.
ORGANIZATION VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS
Entrepreneurship education can be implemented
in all types of organizations, from public schools,
community-based organizations, economic
development incubators, community colleges,
universities, and more. Seek to align entrepreneurship
education efforts with your organization’s underlying
values and direction.
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT
Ensure that individuals designing and delivering
entrepreneurship education programs are appropriately
qualifed with suffcient credentials and/or experience.
Support them with the resources, training, guidance,
and encouragement needed to maximize success.
QUALITY STANDARDS
Align with available content standards to provide
a curriculum framework that is both thorough and
focuses on the right learning outcomes.
National Standards of Practice
for Entrepreneurship Education
© 2006 The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
NATIONAL CONTENT STANDARDS FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
In 2005, the frst-ever National Content Standards
for Entrepreneurship Education were launched by
the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education.
This unique defnition of the feld of
entrepreneurship education as a whole was the
result of asking entrepreneurs what they do and
what one needs to know to do it. The resulting
403 performance indicators and benchmarks are
available to help guide educators in building a
curriculum.
The Content Standards apply for all grades and all
ages. This includes elementary school — where
entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged through
creative thinking activities and where the concept
of business ownership is applied within the context
of academic skills — and university and adult
levels, where problem-solving and higher order
activities are practiced by those studying business
or already in business. Quality entrepreneurship
programs will use Content Standards as a
foundation. Review additional details on the next
page and visit the Consortium website to access the
free toolkit today!
WEBSITE – www.entre-ed.org
Visit the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date
information, resources, curriculum samples, and
training opportunities. The website is freely
available and provides the ideal starting point for
those interested in entrepreneurship education.
SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EDUCATION
Under the leadership of the Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education, members and associates
can participate in a number of support initiatives,
including:
• Building support for a National Entrepreneurship
Week that will help Americans focus on
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education as
resources critical to the economy of the future.
• The annual Entrepreneurship Education Forum
that features presentations and workshops on
innovative entrepreneurship programs, resource
exhibits, and networking opportunities.
• Online training seminars for teachers on a variety
of entrepreneurship education-related topics.
Opportunities for teachers to obtain funding
grants to build new and innovative teaching
strategies, resources, and programs.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education is recognized as the
national leader in advocating entrepreneurship education as a lifelong
learning process. The Consortium champions entrepreneurship education
and provides advocacy, leadership, networking, technical assistance, and
resources across all levels and disciplines of education, promoting quality
practices and programs.
The Consortium is a national membership organization for leaders
advocating entrepreneurship education, composed of national, state,
and local education agencies and organizations.
Membership is available for all – contact us for details.
About
Accountability
Encourages Success
THE BIG PICTURE
• Align entrepreneurship education efforts with the objectives of your
organization and focus on providing positive benefts for all stakeholders.
• Use qualifed personnel within a supportive and rewarding environment.
• Apply quality standards, frequent evaluation, and continuous
improvement.
THE BIG PICTURE
• Apply the National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education.
• Use the Consortium website to fnd up-to-date information, resources,
and training.
• Connect with Entrepreneurship Education leaders in your region,
nationally, and internationally.
For information contact:
The Consortium for
Entrepreneurship Education
1601 W Fifth Ave. #199,
Columbus, OH 43212 USA
Cathy Ashmore, Executive Director
Tel 614-486-6538
[email protected]
Join us!
Facilitate student motivation
Enhance opportunities for work and life
Increase invention and innovation
Strengthen economies
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship
Education is a non-proft (501 C-3) corporation
including over 80 organizations at local, state and
national levels that champion entrepreneurship
education as a lifelong learning process
throughout America.
The Consortium has a variety of member
organizations, all of which provide leadership
in diverse settings, including those who
design curriculum and establish education
policy at the state level, teachers/leaders in
the K-12 educational system, community/
technical colleges and universities, community
based organizations that provide economic
development opportunities through preparing
entrepreneurs, and foundations focused on
improving education through entrepreneurship.
www.entre-ed.org
Resources
for Delivering
Entrepreneurship Education
National Content Standards for
Entrepreneurship Education
There are ffteen major standards, which are
divided into the following three major sections:
ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
The unique traits, behaviors and processes that
differentiate an entrepreneur from an employee
or manager.
READY SKILLS
The business, or entrepreneurial, knowledge
and skills that are prerequisites or co-requisites
for the study of entrepreneurship.
BUSINESS FUNCTIONS
The business activities performed in starting
and running a business.
ENTREPRENEURS TELL US THAT the
Entrepreneur Skills build upon both the
Ready Skills and the Business Functions. The
Entrepreneur Skills include the process, traits
and behaviors applicable to new ventures
and ongoing ventures that create, drive, and
change economic activity - new markets, new
products, new businesses, and more. These
non-sequential, often overlapping, stages of
the entrepreneurial process are:
DISCOVERY
Where the entrepreneur generates ideas,
recognizes opportunities, and determines the
feasibility of ideas, markets, ventures, etc.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Where the entrepreneur plans the venture,
identifes needed resources using a business
plan, identifes strategies to protect intellectual
property, etc.
RESOURCING
Where the entrepreneur identifes and acquires
the fnancial, human, and capital resources
needed for the venture startup, etc.
ACTUALIZATION
Where the entrepreneur operates the venture
and utilizes resources to achieve its goals and
objectives.
HARVESTING
Where the entrepreneur decides on the
venture’s future (growth, development, demise).
POSITIVE BENEFITS
Establish measurable outcomes that focus on providing
value for all stakeholders.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Document, refect, measure, and evaluate programs and
learning outcomes. Practice continuous improvement
and frequently measure results and impact.
DIVERSITY IN PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Seek to include people of all backgrounds in the
program, as instructors, leaders, and mentors to
enhance and expand program design and delivery.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Be the model of responsible entrepreneurship that
you wish to instill in students, by acting ethically
as an initiator of change within your institution or
community.
ORGANIZATION VISION, MISSION, AND GOALS
Entrepreneurship education can be implemented
in all types of organizations, from public schools,
community-based organizations, economic
development incubators, community colleges,
universities, and more. Seek to align entrepreneurship
education efforts with your organization’s underlying
values and direction.
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN A SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT
Ensure that individuals designing and delivering
entrepreneurship education programs are appropriately
qualifed with suffcient credentials and/or experience.
Support them with the resources, training, guidance,
and encouragement needed to maximize success.
QUALITY STANDARDS
Align with available content standards to provide
a curriculum framework that is both thorough and
focuses on the right learning outcomes.
doc_901078424.pdf