BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Students in Alabama will receive a firsthand look at what education can bring – at least $1 million over a person’s lifetime if they graduate from college. Thanks to a partnership with State Farm and The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, over 1,500 students will board The Choice Bus starting Tuesday, April 8 through Friday, April 11. The bus is a half-classroom, half-prison cell mobile experience dedicated to reducing the dropout rate and one of six tools created by The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation. Since 2008, The Choice Bus has visited more than two million students in 20 states. The bus tour schedule includes:
Tuesday, April 8
Mitchell Middle
501 81st St. S
Birmingham, AL 35206
8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9
Alexander City Middle School
359 State St.
Alexander City, AL 35010
8 a.m. – 2:05 p.m.
Thursday, April 10
Handley Middle School
251 Gilham Road
Roanoke, AL 36274
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Friday, April 11
Randolph County High School
465 Woodland Ave.
Wedowee, AL 36278
7:55 a.m. – 3 p.m.
“The Choice Bus experience allows students to envision two dramatically different futures and sends a powerful message about the value of education. The major focus during the presentation is showing young people what education can do for them and how it’s connected to career choices and lifetime earning potential,” said Sherri Stewart, Executive Director of The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation.
A grant by State Farm provides The Choice Bus the opportunity to visit schools, along with Learn2Earn and the InsideOut Toolkit. The Foundation has created Learn2Earn as a financial literacy curriculum for educators to teach students the importance of understanding the world of finance, such as budgeting, taxes, credit cards, loans, etc.
Each InsideOut Toolkit contains a Teacher’s Guide, a Stay in School Pledge Card and the InsideOut documentary – a 26-minute DVD that exposes the real story of the devastating and lasting effects of dropping out of school, told by those who live with the consequences every day: prison inmates. The documentary and companion Teacher’s Guide have been used in classrooms and community centers in 49 states and Canada and viewed by an estimated 15 million students, parents and community leaders.
“We believe The Choice Bus truly impacts the decisions and choices of our students; it truly makes a difference in our schools and communities,” said Emily Clark, State Farm Insurance Public Affairs Specialist. “That’s why we’re proud partners of The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation tools. We know the importance of helping students understand the power of their choices.”
State Farm and MCSF have partnered for the last three years to bring The Choice Bus to Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and additional State Farm territories. State Farm is committed to staying connected to the community by partnering with schools and organizations to help build safe, strong and educated communities.
Dr. Shelley Stewart, Founder and President of The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, said, “Education is the key to a successful life. We need to show every child that they have the potential to pursue a career and make a good living. That’s why we are grateful to State Farm for helping us further our mission to increase the graduation rate in Alabama and across the nation.”
To learn more about The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation and The Choice Bus, visit www.mattiecstewart.org.
