The MECCA Business Learning Institute
A New Maryland Public Charter School for All Students
The Board of Education, Montgomery County Maryland Public Schools
Authorized by
MBLI
A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS
The mission of the MECCA Business Learning Institute (MBLI) is to be a center of excellence for college preparation and vocational training for middle school students - welcoming both students who are passionate about business and those who are just beginning to explore their interests. Whether you have a keen interest in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership or are simply curious about what business is all about, MBLI provides the guidance, skills, and opportunities needed to help every student succeed in their academic and career journey.
We are MBLI—a bold, community-driven public charter school redefining what middle school can be. Whether you're a student who dreams of launching your own business, a parent searching for a school that truly prepares your child for the future, or a supporter looking to invest in the next generation of innovators—you belong here. At MBLI, we believe middle school is more than a stepping stone—it’s the foundation for leadership, confidence, and purpose. Through a supportive and hands-on learning environment, students explore real-world challenges, discover their passions, and acquire the tools to thrive in high school, college, and beyond.
Our Mission: Empowering the Next Generation
At MBLI, we are committed to creating a dynamic and inclusive learning community where students don’t just learn—they lead. Our mission is to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We will do this through a focus on:
🔬 Academic Excellence
We will deliver a rigorous and relevant curriculum that exceeds state standards, preparing students to think critically and solve problems.
💼 Career Readiness
From financial literacy to business simulations, students will acquire real-world skills that matter—whether they pursue a college education, entrepreneurship, or both.
🧠 Leadership Development
We will help students build confidence, communication, and collaboration skills through project-based learning and service opportunities.
🤝 Community Engagement
Our partnerships with local businesses, colleges, and organizations will bring learning to life through mentorships, internships, and more.
Welcome to MBLI – Where Future Leaders Begin
📍 Where We're Starting—and Where We're Going
The MECCA Business Learning Institute Public Charter School (MBLI) will officially launch in Fall 2025, beginning with grades 6 and 7, and expanding each year through high school (grade 12).
While our permanent home at 20261 Goldenrod Lane in Germantown, Maryland, is undergoing its final transformation into a business learning campus, MBLI will open at a temporary Montgomery County Public Schools facility located at 7000 Radnor Road in Bethesda.
We’ve worked relentlessly to secure a permanent home in Montgomery County—a process that hasn’t been easy, but one we’ve met with determination, creativity, and deep commitment to the families we serve.
We are deeply grateful to our school community for accompanying us throughout this journey. This trust inspires us every day to build something lasting and meaningful—for your students and for the future.
At both our temporary and permanent locations, MBLI will provide a welcoming, inclusive environment for all learners, including students who are at-risk, English Language Learners, and those with diverse learning needs.
At MBLI, we believe that a strong foundation leads to boundless opportunity. That’s why our approach to education is both purposeful and powerful—designed to give every student the knowledge, skills, and mindset they need to thrive in school, career, and life.
Our Academic Model: Rigorous, Relevant, Real-World
Our curriculum blends academic excellence with practical application, guided by research-based frameworks and an unwavering belief in student potential.
📚 Core Knowledge, Core Strength
We utilize the Core Knowledge Sequence—a carefully structured and grade-by-grade curriculum that systematically builds knowledge across subjects. This approach ensures students develop a deep understanding of:
Language Arts & Literature
History & Geography
Science
Mathematics
Civics & Character Education
By providing shared knowledge and cultural literacy, Core Knowledge equips students with the intellectual tools and vocabulary they need to think critically and engage meaningfully with the world around them.
💼 M-Core: Our Business Education Advantage
Beyond traditional subjects, MBLI features M-Core, our signature business and career readiness program. Students learn:
Financial Literacy
Entrepreneurship
Marketing & Management
Leadership & Teamwork
These skills aren’t taught in isolation—they’re integrated into real-world projects, pitch competitions, and mentorship opportunities that prepare students for future success.
MBLI’s Learning Framework: What Makes Our Day Unique
At MBLI, we’ve designed a structured yet flexible school day that supports academic growth, personal development, and real-world readiness. Our model is built around six core components that work together to provide a well-rounded education:
📘 Core Classes
These are the foundation of every student’s academic experience and include English Language Arts (ELA), Math, Science, and Social Studies. Our core curriculum is grounded in the Core Knowledge Sequence, ensuring that knowledge builds intentionally across grade levels and subjects. Students develop critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills that prepare them for success in high school, college, and career.
🎨 Encore Courses
Encore classes support creativity, wellness, and global understanding. Students participate in Art, Music, Physical Education, Health, and World Languages, gaining exposure to new disciplines and opportunities to express themselves, stay active, and explore cultures beyond their own.
🧠 Flex Block
This is a personalized learning period designed to meet students where they are. Whether it’s catching up, diving deeper, or pursuing enrichment, Flex Block provides students with focused time to strengthen their academic skills and build confidence through small-group instruction, hands-on projects, or individual tutoring.
🧭 Advisory
Advisory is a daily space for relationship-building, personal reflection, and leadership development. Students work with a dedicated staff advisor to set academic goals, strengthen executive functioning skills, and engage in structured social-emotional learning. Advisory fosters a classroom community and ensures that every student feels seen and supported.
💼 Middle School Foundations
This weekly course equips students with essential life and career skills. In Foundations, students explore executive functioning, digital literacy, career exploration, entrepreneurship, financial responsibility, and more. It’s where real-world readiness begins, preparing students for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
🌍 Service Learning
At MBLI, we believe students learn best by making meaningful connections to the world around them. Through monthly school-wide service projects, students apply classroom learning to real community needs—building empathy, responsibility, and leadership. Service Learning is an important part of our mission to develop thoughtful, civically engaged young leaders.
How We Will Educate
In 2013–2014, we identified a critical gap in how students were being exposed to the full range of career opportunities available to them. While STEM education has made significant strides, many students remain disconnected from their learning, unaware of viable and fulfilling pathways in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and other high-impact fields.
This gap wasn’t just about academics—it was about access, visibility, and belief. Too many young people couldn’t see themselves in the future they were being prepared for.
The MECCA Business Learning Institute (MBLI) Public Charter School was created in direct response to this need. It is the result of the vision and groundwork laid by the Mentoring by Example Foundation (MBEF), which spent years working directly with youth and young adults through after-school programs, leadership workshops, mentoring, and career readiness initiatives. These efforts made a powerful impact—but they also made one thing clear: to reach more students more effectively, we had to meet them within the school day.
To achieve this, MBEF College & Career Academies (MECCA) was established as the formal education design arm of the foundation. MECCA’s mission is to design and launch career-focused learning experiences—like MBLI—that bring real-world relevance, academic rigor, and leadership development into the classroom every single day.
MBLI is the result of that vision in action—a public charter school built to prepare students for both college and career, through high-quality academics, hands-on business learning, and character development.
We also want to say this clearly: We know that charter schools are not everyone’s cup of tea. However, we firmly believe that charter schools can and do make a meaningful difference when founded on equity, vision, and accountability. MBLI exists not to compete with traditional public schools—but to complement them, offering families a high-quality, mission-driven option for their child’s education.
Yes, we’ve been slandered, we’ve been bullied, and we’ve faced setbacks and opposition. But we’ve also been lifted by community. And through it all, we’ve remained committed and unshaken—because we’re doing this for the kids.
We are still here. Still standing. Still building. Still believing. And we will continue.
At MBLI, we’re not just building a school—we’re building a movement where students are seen, challenged, and prepared to lead with purpose.
Why We Exist: Closing Gaps, Expanding Possibilities
Join the Team That’s Redefining Education!
Are you passionate about education and driven to make a real impact? The MECCA Business Learning Institute Public Charter School (MBLI) is looking for dedicated, mission-aligned educators and professionals to join our founding team.
At MBLI, we’re building a school community that inspires, challenges, and prepares students for success in both college and career. If you’re ready to help shape a supportive, innovative, and business-focused learning environment—we want to hear from you.
📌 Please note: In the state of Maryland, school-based staff at public charter schools are employees of the district that authorizes the school. Accordingly, MBLI staff are employees of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)—but are selected and hired by MBLI.
If you’re ready to lead, to serve, and to inspire, visit our Jobs Page to view current openings and apply today.