2024-2025 U Got Brains Champion Schools Program General Guidelines
This program aims to partner with teens from schools across our state to raise awareness of teen driving safety and reduce teen driving injuries and deaths. Please follow the guidelines below as you develop your project. Contact us at championschools@bianj.org if you have any questions.
- We encourage you to utilize various forms of media to spread the word about your Champion Schools Project. A sample press release is included online at JerseyDrives.com under the Media & Promotion section on the Tools for School page.
- Don’t forget to use websites and social media to increase the reach of your project and as a way to measure the impact of your project.
- Social media is essential to promoting your campaign and raising awareness about teen safe driving. Please encourage ALL students who participate in the campaign to like/follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok @JerseyDrives.
- Research shows that parental involvement is critical to new drivers’ safety on the road. Teens who say their parents set rules and monitor their driving in a helpful and supportive way are half as likely to be in a crash. Extra credit will be given to schools that have a NJM Share the Keys program. For more information, visit https://www.njm.com/share-the-keys
- In order to enhance the U Got Brains Champion Schools Program, schools will be asked to participate in an evaluation of the program.
- Documentation of your work and its impact on your school and community is an integral part of this project. Be creative! Include any photos, videos, printed materials, surveys, focus group results, questionnaires, pledge sheets, and newspaper articles along with your written reports.
- Please remember to credit and include the logos for the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ), as well as the program’s funder, New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, and our founding sponsor, NJM Insurance Group. Visit the Tools for Schools section on the Champion Schools page at JerseyDrives.com for more details and to obtain the organizations’ logos.
- Mid-term reports are due March 15, 2025.
- Three-part final reports are due May 1, 2025. All schools must complete: (1) the written report (2) submit a PowerPoint or video project summary not to exceed 10 minutes. This project summary should be an overview of your campaign’s accomplishments. (3) New for this year, schools must submit a 15 second highlight reel. See guidelines here. Project files should be uploaded using the upload section located on the final report form.
- The Awards Project Showcase will take place in May 2025.
2024 – 2025 Judging Criteria for Champion Schools Program
The following criteria will be used to judge school projects. Keep these criteria in mind as you develop your project.
Extra credit will be given in the evaluation of your project for participation in the following teen driving safety programs: the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey’s Share the Road Program, NJM Insurance Group’s Share the Keys Parent/Teen Safe Driving Orientation and Teen Driver Safety Programs, and the New Jersey Street Smarts Program. Visit the Tools for Schools section at JerseyDrives.com for more details and links to these various programs.
*Please note: The judging requirement has changed due to feedback from the judges.
Objective:
Clearly state the objective of your project.
Execution:
Describe your project and its implementation.
School/Community Engagement:
How did you reach your student body and the community? (examples: connecting with nearby colleges, schools, local police departments, persons affected by teen crashes, local/county/state governments, and local businesses)
Creativity:
What makes your project unique and engaging? How did you engage with other student groups to creatively spread your message? (Examples: create artwork, music, plays, unique campaign slogan/logos)
Teamwork:
Show how you worked as a team in designing and implementing your project (examples: sign-in sheets at meetings, photos of the group working on tasks).
Use of Research/Data:
Show how you used local resources to help identify, deliver, assess, and present your project (Examples: local/statewide/national data.).
Use of Media:
Document how you used media in your project (examples: local radio, TV, newspapers, social media, websites, video, PSAs).
Evaluation and Impact:
Describe how you measured the impact of your project (examples: pre/post observational studies, surveys, quizzes, interviews, etc.)
Sustainability:
How will your project have a lasting effect on your target group?
Unexpected Lessons Learned:
Describe any unintended results that came out of your project.
2024 – 2025 Champion School Program Extra Credit
Extra credit will be given in the evaluation of your project for participation in the following teen driving safety programs:
Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey
- Teen Safe Driving Workshop – Designed to educate teens about the GDL laws, pedestrian safety and how to be aware of distractions. Strategies for new drivers to prevent crashes and to learn how everyone can share the road will be included. To schedule a workshop, contact Director of Public Health & Safety, Kate O’Connor at koconnor@bianj.org
- Take the Pledge
NJM Insurance Group
Teen Driver Safety Programs
- To schedule a workshop with NJM, contact Consumer Safety Partnership and Program Supervisor, Erica Rosso at ERosso@NJM.com
- Safe Teen Driving Presentations
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Street Smarts Program
- To connect with Street Smart NJ, contact Street Smart Coordinator, Will Yarzab at wyarzab@njtpa.org
- Pedestrian Safety Education Campaign-How to Get Involved
- Public Engagement Toolkit