Batesville Celebrates Ford Next Generation Learning Designation

Batesville citizens are invited to a special pre-game celebration on Friday, September 6, beginning at 6 PM in the back parking lot.

(Batesville, Ind.) - Batesville has been selected as the newest Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL) community and will celebrate this achievement with a community-focused event at the first home varsity football game. Batesville is now part of the Ford NGL national network supported by Ford Philanthropy, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company.

Batesville citizens are invited to a special pre-game celebration on Friday, September 6, beginning at 6 PM in the back parking lot of Batesville High School, featuring the Batesville High School dance team, Ford cars on display, and a giveaway for youth attendees. Following the first quarter of the football game, a brief presentation to the community by representatives of Ford NGL and the Batesville Community School Corporation (BCSC) will officially mark Batesville’s designation status.

Ford NGL is internationally recognized for its unique approach to transforming public high schools into career-themed learning environments that better prepare students for college and professional success in today’s competitive global economy while at the same time improving workforce outcomes and overall community prosperity.

Through its new Bulldog Ready programming using the Ford NGL framework, high school students at BCSC will learn academics through the lens of a potential career, such as engineering, healthcare, technology, or marketing. They will have the opportunity to participate in authentic work-based learning opportunities, job shadows, and other career exploration activities with local employers. Students will work closely with professionals in their field of interest, adding relevance to their studies and connecting classroom knowledge to success in the workplace.

To be selected as a Ford NGL community, Batesville developed a three-year master plan to ensure that all high school students are learning in career groups and that the structures and processes are in place to engage local and regional employers and civic leaders in supporting and sustaining these learning communities.

“Central to our Bulldog Ready vision is the expansion of learning beyond the traditional classroom walls, embracing the resources and opportunities available within our community,” said Paul Ketcham, BCSC superintendent. “By fostering partnerships and engaging with local stakeholders, BCSC is creating an environment where all students, from kindergarten through grade 12 students, can thrive academically and personally.”

Ford NGL communities have demonstrated success through higher graduation rates, increased academic achievement, lower dropout rates, and industry certifications earned in high school. Districts in the Ford NGL network have shown increased student engagement at both the high school and postsecondary levels, developing more robust ties between educators and local employers, generating a stronger talent-development pipeline for high-demand careers, and boosting community prosperity.

Through the Ford NGL process, districts and their communities become partners and align their resources to improve student outcomes and support the region’s workforce and economic development needs.

“Ford NGL is a systemic approach to transform education to be more relevant and authentic for students, provide them opportunities to explore careers, help them make better decisions about their future, and connect them to employers in their field of interest,” said Cheryl Carrier, Executive Director, Ford Next Generation Learning. “The Ford NGL partnership gives students and teachers a competitive edge that improves their chances for future success and will benefit the workforce and economic development needs of a region for years to come.”