Business incubator class gets upgrade in Naperville Dist. 203

High School students in Naperville Unit District 203 will be able to take a business incubator course next year that culminates in pitching an innovative idea to actual investors.

The school board on Monday approved a $40,000 contract with the Barrington-based nonprofit INCubatoredu to provide licensed curriculum for the new class.

Available at both Naperville Central and Naperville North high schools, the business incubator class will guide students through development of their own product or service idea while they learn about what leads to a successful business.

It will replace an entrepreneurship class already offered at the schools with a new version that involves local business people as coaches, instructors, mentors, evaluators and even potential investors.

"This engages the community much more closely with our students," Jayne Willard, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said about the INCubatoredu program. "It really brings authentic experiences."

Instead of writing curriculum for the incubator class themselves, administrators decided to step up to the INCubatoredu program with its greater use of adult role models. The nonprofit's website says its programs help students learn how to monetize their passions through hands-on experience and assistance from a team of experts.

"We're upgrading our course to this model," Willard said.

The contract with INCubatoredu includes a license to use lesson plans, audio and video presentations, tests, handouts and student activity guides developed by the organization. Also included in the contract is online trainings for teachers who will lead the courses.

Willard said educators likely will be looking to recruit about a dozen local entrepreneurs to work with each high school's incubator class. Students will learn about market research, business plan development, marketing, accounting, human resources and legal topics.

"We're very excited about it," Willard said.