New nonprofit business program to debut at Stamford High this fall

STAMFORD — Stamford High School is getting down to business this fall.

The school is beefing up its business administration class offerings by introducing a suite of courses called the High School of Business for the upcoming school year, making Stamford High the first high school in the state to offer the program, which was created by Ohiobased nonprofit MBA Research and Curriculum Center.

While the program will be housed at Stamford High, students from across the city can apply to attend. Registration is already open on the high school’s website and a lottery will be held March 1.

The suite will kick off with an introductory class for freshman titled “leadership” and two other sophomore-level courses in the first year. Over the following two school years, classes for juniors and seniors will be added. Once fully installed, the program will allow students to take six semester-long courses: principles of business, business economics, principles of marketing, principles of finance, principles of management and business strategies.

In that last and culminating class, students will start and run their own business.

“Providing access and opportunity for Stamford students to be college and career ready when they graduate high school is a top priority for Stamford Public Schools,” said Amy Beldotti, associate superintendent for teaching and learning, in a press release from the district. The program will “enable students from across the district with an interest in business to pursue a rigorous course of study in business fundamentals in preparation for college and career,” she said.

A press release from Stamford Public Schools described the High School of Business as a college-level business administration program.

“Adding the High School of Business at Stamford High will enable students from across the district with an interest in business to pursue a rigorous course of study in business fundamentals in preparation for college and career,” Beldotti said in the release.

Dorothea Mackey, the head of the Career and Technical Education Department at Stamford High, said she became interested in the High School of Business when she attended a professional development event and learned more about it.

She was aware of MBA Research, as the state’s Board of Education recently adopted the nonprofit’s standards for business management and administration in May 2022.

Mackey said she was attracted to the High School of Business model, as it differed from the business offerings currently available at Stamford High.

“It gives you a sequence so it does give you a direction,” she said.

Mackey was interested in bringing the program to Stamford, so she helped put together a steering committee, which included Beldotti and other administrators and teachers.

Ultimately, they put in an application and were chosen. Now, teachers at the school will need to be trained in the course’s curriculum, scheduled to happen this June.

The program will also feature guest speakers and observational internships for the students. Those who complete the course can get up to nine college credits, Mackey said.

Families can learn more about the program during an information meeting scheduled for Feb. 15.

MBA Research is a non-profit that creates business and marketing curriculum for high schools and colleges. The High School of Business program is offered in more than 60 high schools across 15 states and the District of Columbia.

“This is perfect for us and this is perfect for the state of Connecticut,” Mackey said.