- What program elements are included with the cost of the program fees?
Our program fees include the following features:
- Teacher Training and/or Material Pick-Up Dates
- Volunteer Orientation
- Pre-visit classroom curriculum (3 weeks), Citizen Checkbooks & an electronic copy of Citizen Handbooks
- Curriculum aligned to MO & KS state standards
- Lessons designed with research-based instructional strategies
- 5 hour Exchange City experience
- Post-visit follow-up curriculum (3 weeks)
- Unlimited support from our certified teaching staff.
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- Exchange City is so great! How can you afford to run such an awesome program and provide all of these features?
The program fees cover only half of the true cost it takes to run our program. The other half is covered by grants, sponsorships and donations. Program costs include purchase of raw materials, student materials, technology, building costs such as rent and utilities, as well as the salaries of the certified teaching staff.
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- Can you accommodate a special needs student? What jobs would you recommend for a student with special needs?
Just as in the real world, there is a job for every citizen at Exchange City. Please contact Exchange City program staff to discuss the job opportunities for students with special circumstances. Recommendations will be made based upon the needs of the individual student.
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- We are a school that may need help with funding. Are grants or scholarships available? What are some fundraising ideas so that I can bring my class?
Because we are a field experience with an educational curriculum -- not just a “field trip” – funds can be requested from your school’s curriculum budget. PTO’s or PTA’s are also good sources of funding. Many districts have an Educational Foundation. A partial list of educational grant opportunities can be found at http://www.grantsalert.com/. Another option would be to contact local merchants in your area for funding.
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- Can you give my school a discount?
Exchange City's per-student fee that we charge schools actually covers less than half of the cost that it takes to run our educational programs. The rest of the money to cover our costs comes from the Cody Foundation underwriting, grants, sponsors, and donations. However, we offer 10% off for schools who attend both Exchange City and EarthWorks and 5% off for early enrolllment (enrollment received before March 31st for the following school year).
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- When are the trainings?
Teacher Trainings are held on specified Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Material Pick-Up Dates are scheduled once a month. You can attend a Teacher Training/Material Pick-Up Date at any time during the school year regardless of when your visit is scheduled. To sign up for a Teacher Training go to the teacher section of our site and click on Teacher Training Confirmation.
Volunteer Orientations are held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on specified Tuesdays. Teachers need to make Volunteer Orientation reservations for their school volunteers. Go to the teacher section of our site and click on Volunteer Orientation Reservation. Please include all volunteers on one form.
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- I am a teacher that is new to the Exchange City program, do I have to attend training?
Yes. All participants, both teachers and volunteers are required to be trained in our program. All new Exchange City teachers need to attend a three hour Teacher Training session that will include an introduction to the Exchange City classroom curriculum, preparation details for your school’s visit, tour of the site, and introduction of experiential learning methods.
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- I am a teacher who came to training last year. Is it necessary for me to come to training this year?
Perhaps. If a teacher feels they need a refresher course on the curriculum, they may attend a new Teacher Training session to highlight current curriculum enhancements and review curriculum changes even if they are already familiar with the Exchange City program. Material Pick-Up dates are also scheduled once a month for returning teachers to pick up student materials.
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- How soon can I register for next year to ensure I get the date I want?
Right now. Registration for next year is already available. Please submit the electronic enrollment application online and specify the year for which you are enrolling.
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- How do I enroll?
Click on the "Educator" button on the Exchange City page of the website. Then click on "Enrollment Form".
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- How do I send in my student list?
Via the website. In the “Educator” area of the Exchange City page, click on the "Student Job List" button.
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- How do I get the password to download the curriculum?
Teachers are given their passwords during Teacher Trainings and Material Pick-Up dates. The passwords are also provided with the student materials. **Please note that due to our GoGreen initiative at the new Exchange City, materials handed out will be student checkbooks, a master copy of the Citizen Handbook (which is also on-line with the curriculum), and pertinent curriculum updates.**
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- When can I pick up my student materials?
Student materials are available for pick up during Teacher Training and/or scheduled Material Pick-Up dates. **Please note that due to our GoGreen initiative at the new Exchange City, materials handed out will be student checkbooks, a master copy of the Citizen Handbook (which is also on-line with the curriculum), and pertinent curriculum updates.**
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- Are refunds available for returned materials or for students who are absent the day of our scheduled visit?
No. Billing is based on the number of student materials received by a school; therefore, refunds are not available for absent students or for returned unused materials.
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- What if my school needs to arrive at a time different than the normal 9:30 am - 2:30 pm day?
Some schools may need to adapt their visit schedule to accommodate their bus schedule. Typically, students partake in most planned sections of the day with minimal time alterations. We try to schedule a full five hours into your Exchange City day. However, there may be necessary modifications to the schedule. We will work to insure that each school has the best Exchange City experience possible. It is important, however, to coordinate arrival and departures time with your shared school(s). Be sure to confirm your school’s arrival and departure times with Exchange City staff so that we can be prepared for your school’s visit.
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- What if we cannot get enough volunteers?
Volunteers play an essential role in our programs, and we require the indicated number of volunteers for each program. We suggest contacting student family members such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles. We also suggest using other school staff members such as librarians, secretaries, and paraprofessionals. Some schools recruit volunteers from the local senior high schools. Be sure to select quality volunteers who can attend Volunteer Orientation as well as the Exchange City visit. For those schools experiencing difficulty soliciting assistance, Exchange City has a bank of pre-trained volunteers from CommunityAmerica Credit Union to assist you. Contact Exchange City program staff to pre-arrange the use of these volunteers.
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- We are a school who has been attending for the past 15 years. Why do we have to share a day?
A critical mass of 100 students is required to create the optimal Exchange City experience. Since Exchange City consists of 14 businesses with 120 jobs that need to be staffed, missing jobs and closed shops detract from the optimal experience. It is also a matter of employee staffing. The day is divided into nine breaks with 40 (one-third) of the students excused from their jobs at each break. During the break, the students deposit paychecks, eat and shop. To keep the city running during these breaks, each shop must be well staffed with “employees” during these breaks.
The per-student fee that Exchange City charges schools actually covers less than half of the cost that it takes to run our educational programs. The rest of the money to cover our costs comes from the Cody Foundation underwriting, grants, sponsors, and donations. It takes a full enrollment of 120 students per day to meet the cost of our budget. Schools do have the option of paying the cost of a full day for 120 students regardless of the number of students they wish to bring.
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- Are student managers allowed to fire the student employees?
No. In the real world, the majority of unproductive employees would typically go through an employee performance evaluation, which entails setting specific goals for improvement. Because we strive to provide the most realistic experience, citizens are expected to work through such issues as personality conflicts and uncooperative co-workers while maintaining professionalism. However, community service for uncooperative citizens may be an option!
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- Do you have a microwave I can use for my lunch the day we visit?
Yes. There is a microwave available in the Corner Café.
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