Middle Level 101

Aswini Kake, Central Area State Vice President

Illinois FBLA has made it a goal to engage more middle schools in FBLA over the
course of the past few years, so bringing back middle-level FBLA isn’t just a goal
anymore, it’s a reality that we need to achieve as soon as possible. Bringing back
middle-level FBLA is crucial for several reasons, including providing early exposure to business concepts, nurturing leadership potential at a young age, and creating a
pipeline for motivated students who intend to continue their growth in high school
FBLA. Additionally, middle-level FBLA can provide an early sense of community and
purpose for students, while connecting like-minded students to create a supportive
network of future leaders.

Starting new chapters can be stressful, so here are the key steps to get started:

1. To start a chapter, support from school administration is necessary and required.

2. After gaining school admin support, the next step is to find an advisor for the
chapter. A faculty advisor is essential to guiding the chapter and ensuring that
students have the support they need.

3. The heart of an FBLA chapter is truly its members, so once administrative
support and a faculty advisor are in place, begin recruiting students. This can be
done through various methods like school-wide announcements, classroom
visits, or informational meetings.

4. Once you have interested students and an advisor, complete the registration on
the national FBLA website. Once the registration is completed, your chapter is all
set up and ready to go!

​In conclusion, revitalizing middle-level FBLA chapters is a vital step in fostering
vital skills like professional development, leadership, and student and civic
responsibility. By establishing these chapters, we can ensure that students are better
prepared for the future, both academically and professionally, while continuing the growth of the FBLA organization.