Board hears presentation on 3DE (Junior Achievement) school-within-a-school model; district to send staff to observe
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Summary
Superintendent and staff described preliminary interest in the 3DE school-within-a-school model from Junior Achievement, and the board authorized further study including a site visit and potential letter of intent; no commitment was made.
Jordan School District administrators briefed the board on preliminary work investigating 3DE, a Junior Achievement-sponsored school-within-a-school model that partners teachers, business mentors and cohorts of students to teach real-world project-based learning.
The superintendent said 3DE forms a cohort (commonly about 150 students) that receives project-based instruction across grade levels and integrates multiple disciplines with employer partners. Junior Achievement would supply a coordinator and curriculum support; the district’s primary commitments would be teacher planning time and local business partnerships. Staff said some districts implement 9–12 cohorts while others use 10–12 models.
Board members asked about the model’s structure (cohort versus individual-course enrollment), potential overlap with career and technical education, teacher professional development needs, business partner recruitment and who would pay for teacher release or additional prep time. Staff proposed next steps: a short site visit to an established 3DE program, conversations with Junior Achievement about program costs and commitments, and a letter of intent only after staff returns with additional information. The board did not approve implementation or funding during the study session.
Superintendent and staff said they would consult CTE, review potential overlaps and report back with a recommended implementation timeline and budget implications.