* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Council President Young
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
National Entrepreneurship Week - February 18-25
FOR the purpose of recognizing National Entrepreneurship Week, February 18-25, as a time to focus on innovative ways that entrepreneurship education can be used to help our children unlock their dreams.
body
Recitals
In 2006, Congress passed a resolution calling for an annual "National Entrepreneurship Week" that would "focus on the innovative ways in which entrepreneurship education can bring together core academic, technical, and problem solving skills essential for future entrepreneurs and successful workers in future workplaces".
While discussing the importance of America's tradition of entrepreneurship to the historical success of our economy and society, that resolution also pointed out that, besides supporting economic growth, entrepreneurship education "has been shown to be especially effective in closing the achievement gap between minority students and others in public schools" and that "students who participate in entrepreneurship education programs have better attendance records, perform better on core subjects, and have lower dropout rates than those who do not participate in these programs".
In today's economy, encouraging successful entrepreneurship may well hold the key to sustaining the current recovery and ensuring long-term American competitiveness. Our children seem eager to take up this challenge; a recent poll found that nearly 80% of students in grades 5-12 are interested in becoming entrepreneurs, and more than 90% of students demonstrate the qualities found to be the most important to successful entrepreneurs - perseverance and willingness to assume risk.
However, according to the same research, many of these students lack access to the training and education necessary to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality. Clearly, more effort still needs to be made to more broadly integrate entrepreneurship education into our young people's lives.
In his Presidential Proclamation on National Entrepreneurship Week a little over a year ago, President Obama said, "Entrepreneurs embody the promise that lies at the heart of America - that if you have a good idea and work hard enough, the American dream is within your reach. During National Entrepreneurship Week, we renew our commitment to supporting the entrepreneurs who power the engine of our Nations's economy. These intrepid individuals translate their vision into products and services that keep America strong and competitive on a global scale, and build opportunity and prosperity across our country."
Today, perhaps more than ever, it is essential that we ensure that our young men and women have the tools that they need to "build opportunity and prosperity" for themselves, their communities, and our entire nation. Taking the chance provided by National Entrepreneurship Week to explore how we can better equip the next generation to realize their entrepreneurial dreams can be an important step in this effort.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council recognizes National Entrepreneurship Week, February 18-25, as a time to focus on innovative ways that entrepreneurship education can be used to help our children unlock their dreams.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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