Research Shows Student Enterprise Program (StEP) Improves Student Achievement

Last year, the Economics Center concluded a formal assessment of the impact of our Student Enterprise Program (StEP) in local schools. Through StEP, students learn important real-world economic concepts and skills by earning school currency for on-time attendance, good behavior, academic achievement and classroom preparedness. These earnings can be used to purchase real goods at a school store.

The assessment was conducted by our highly regarded research and consulting arm and focused on third graders in the Cincinnati Public Schools. It showed that students who participate in StEP improve their consistent, on-time attendance, as well as behavior and class preparedness by the end of the academic year. Additionally, students demonstrated increased knowledge of economic concepts, an important 21st century skill.

StEP is an important tool that is helping teachers improve classroom instruction and is reinforcing behaviors tied to academic success. At an early age students acquire critical knowledge that will help them navigate a complex world.