The School-Based Enterprise (SBE) Certification Program was developed to provide recognition for outstanding achievement by school-based enterprises and to motivate SBEs to strive for excellence and to grow. The program will provide SBEs with standards for model school store operation. The Certification Program will provide recognition for school-based enterprises at three levels: bronze, silver and gold. The number and type of activities a school-based enterprise completes in each of twelve categories will determine the recognition level. A sample gold level SBE manual can be found on DECA’s SBE website at www.schoolbasedenterprises.org.

All SBEs who achieve at the gold level will be eligible to bring an advisor and 1 – 3 student manager(s) to the International Career Development Conference. During the ICDC, those SBEs who achieve gold certification and those re-certifying at the gold level, will be recognized and receive an award. SBEs who are unable to attend ICDC will receive their award by mail.

SBEs must claim credit for their achievement by submitting a report consisting of a Documentation Report Form for each standard and additional documentation (photos, reports, news articles, letters, etc.) as needed. You may use the format of either of the Documentation Report Forms that are provided. Additional documentation should follow the appropriate Documentation Report Form – not placed as an appendix at the end. SBEs will submit their documentation to DECA Inc. no later than January 13, 2012, for verification of the award achievement level. DECA Inc. will then submit a list to Ohio DECA of SBEs that achieve certification, along with the appropriate award certificates. Chapter advisors will receive official notification from DECA Inc. regarding the level of achievement. There will be no competition at the state level. Chapters receiving the Gold Level will advance directly to the International Career Development Conference.

Gold level certified SBEs may remain certified at that level for 5 years by completing the requirements for re-certification annually. Those SBEs who complete gold level re-certification will also be recognized at the ICDC. The requirements for re-certification are outlined on the SBE website at www.schoolbasedenterprises.org. After five years, the SBE must complete the original certification process to be eligible for the gold level award.

The format and guidelines for the School Based Enterprise Certification Program can be found at www.schoolbasedenterprises.org.