The District 26 (D26) Career Center’s Business program received a Gold level certification from DECA for their School Based Enterprise (SBE). For achieving Gold level certification for the 2025-2026 school year they will be recognized during DECA’s International Career Development Conference this April 25-28, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
“I am incredibly proud of students in our Business program and their teacher and advisor Mr. Christian Harrison,” said Jason Neal, Director of the D26 Career Center. “This prestigious recognition serves as validation of the incredible program and experience offered to our students at the D26 Career Center.”
The D26 SBE is a store that provides convenient snack and beverage options to students and staff during the school day. Products are selected based on student demand and availability. Revenue is generated through food sales and deposited into the school’s account. The store is managed by students under the supervision of their advisor Mr. Harrison.
“Finance serves as a foundation for decision-making within our SBE,” said Harrison. “Students are involved in pricing strategies, product selection, and long-term sustainability. They also do the day-to-day work which includes counting down the register and completing deposit slips.”
An SBE is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.
DECA advisors have utilized this effective educational tool for over four decades to provide their students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st Century skill development, and prepare students for college and careers.
“DECA’s SBE Certification Program is a rigorous process designed to help DECA members demonstrate their classroom learning in a practical, learning laboratory, and then translate that into meaningful outcomes,” said Christopher Young, CAE, Chief Program Officer at DECA Inc. “These DECA members are practicing important workplace readiness skills while preparing for college and careers.”
SBEs can be certified at three levels: bronze, silver or gold. In order to apply for the certification, SBEs must submit extensive documentation that explains how the SBE demonstrates the practice of various marketing and retail standards. A review committee evaluates the documentation to determine which level of certification has been achieved. DECA’s School-based Enterprise program is sponsored by Otis Spunkmeyer Inc.
For the 2025-2026 school year, the D26 SBE was one of only two schools in Indiana to receive gold certification. The other school was Greenwood Community High School. A complete list of 2025-2026 Certified SBE’s can be found here.