Exchange City combines a once in a lifetime learning opportunity and rich variety of outcomes for students, parents, community volunteers and educators. In addition, evaluation of the Exchange City experience provides strong evidence of its benefits.

Benefits for Students

Increased Learning

Students who participate in Exchange City demonstrate increased understanding and retention of economics principles, employment skills, government roles and personal finance, according to 1999 and 2002 independent evaluations of the program.

Integrated Curriculum

Educational research and theory promote student learning through an integrated curriculum. An integrated curriculum is one in which students learn and apply knowledge skills and aptitudes across several subjects and within problem-solving context. Exchange City creates the context and interactivity that allows teachers to teach core economic, government, math, social studies and literacy curriculum as well as career education.

Career Exploration

Students gain first-hand knowledge and skills that will help them understand about
their civic and economic roles, responsibilities and options within the American government and free enterprise system.

Real-Life Simulation

Students immerse themselves in a real-life simulated economy by taking on the roles of business owners, entrepreneurs, employees, civil servants and elected officials in their very own mini-town.

Decision Making

Students discover that their decisions have impact and consequences as they learn what it takes to make products, run businesses, meet a payroll, speak publicly, pay off loans and meet customer needs.
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Benefits for Parents and Volunteers

Participate in Student Learning

Parents and volunteers become educational partners and mentors in an exciting, fun, meaningful and active learning experience with their children. Exchange City parents and volunteers are enthusiastic about being involved in experiential learning with their students.

Advancement of Career Education

Parents value the opportunity to increase their children’s knowledge of a myriad of careers, workday experiences and values about personal responsibility, money management, teamwork, citizenship and career planning. Exchange City gives parents teachable moments to share their own career and job-related experiences more fully with their children.

Understanding of Economic Fundamentals

Parents gain insight and enjoy opportunities to learn the fundamentals of the American government and free enterprise system.

Interaction as Peers with Teachers

Parents discover opportunities to work with their children’s schools and teachers in ways that are positive, meaningful and productive. There are few systemic learning opportunities for parents and teachers to cooperate as peers, colleagues and coaches. Exchange City provides this valuable experience.
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Benefits for Educators

Access to a Turnkey Curriculum of High Standards

Educators enjoy first-rate learning strategies and curriculum correlated and adaptable to state mandates, district objectives, community priorities and student needs. Exchange City has a flexible curriculum that can be coordinated with other resources, materials and activities.

Advancement of an Effective School Reform Strategy

Educators participate in a highly visible project that has powerful learning outcomes. The involvement of parents, business and the community-at-large enhances the application of powerful experiential learning strategies in and out of the classroom.

Increased Opportunities for Community Engagement

Educators discover opportunities to leverage advocacy and active participation from parents and the community. Volunteering in classrooms and support for innovative learning strategies and are exciting by-products of the Exchange City experience.

Opportunities for Experiential Learning

Educators see results from involvement in an experiential learning process which increases student achievement, motivation, preparation and enthusiasm.
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Evaluation Summary

Exchange City gets results and helps students achieve academic gains. Throughout its over 20-year history, Exchange City has been evaluated numerous times. Forms of evaluation have included formal pre- and post- assessments, informal open-ended survey questions and ongoing daily feedback from teachers, parents and students. Here is what 1999 pre- and post- test data demonstrate.

Statistically Significant Student Knowledge Gains:

Economic principles such as opportunity cost, supply and demand, division of labor, budgeting and free enterprise

Government concepts including the role of city officials and city personnel, mayor, judge and police officers

Employment skills fundamental to applying for, obtaining and successfully implementing a job

Banking concepts including checking accounts, lending money and charging interest.

Statistically Significant Parent and Volunteer Gains...

Economic principles underlying the American government, economy and free enterprise system

Program purpose and quality such as experiential learning principles and impact on their children's learning.

Meaningful volunteer opportunity leading to an increased willingness to recommend becoming an Exchange City volunteer to other adults to appreciation of Exchange City staff and recognitions of their contributions to their children's learniing.

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