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CEE’s National Economics Challenge is Going Global!

By CEE

The Council for Economic Education (CEE) is excited to announce the expansion of our National Economics Challenge (NEC) internationally as part of the World Youth Forum-Future Economics Leadership Summit (WYF-FELS).

The CEE National Economics Challenge will be featured as part of the five-day WYF-FELS summit, being held in Hong Kong August 6-10. WYF-FELS cultivates and celebrates economic education, cultural diversity and individual development among youth globally. The summit and student competition are designed to lead to an improved, globalized education landscape where we can enlighten, enrich and empower future generations.

According to Nan J. Morrison, President and CEO of the Council for Economic Education, “Economics provides a powerful lens to understand how the world works and how to navigate within it. Participating in the WYF-FELS and the NEC not only builds economic knowledge, but enables students to gain skill in teamwork, presentation, and critical thinking, and to establish a network of like-minded global peers.”

You may be able to become a part of this inaugural summit, with over 300 students from across the globe!

Are you a corporate leader with offices in Hong Kong? You too could be part of the Summit by hosting a company visit.

Where: Hong Kong

When: August 8, 2-2.5hrs in the morning or afternoon

What: Discussion with senior and junior staff about your organization, roles in the organization and tour of operations. Suggested agendas provided.

Who: 12-15 high school students who have an interest in and knowledge of economics and world affairs

Please contact our partner: ling@cp21.org if you would like to host these amazing students!


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post CEE’s National Economics Challenge is Going Global! appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: July 2, 2024 | BY: brendan

National Economics Challenge Winners 2024

By CEE

Think fast!

What are two actions that the Federal Reserve might take to combat inflation?

If the average cost of producing four cars is $20,000 and the average cost of producing five cars is $22,000, what is the marginal cost of producing the fifth car?

Racing to answer more than 20 rapid-fire questions like those in just 20 seconds per question, high school students from around the country competed near the heart of Wall Street to earn honors as best in America in the Council for Economic Education’s 2024 National Economics Challenge (NEC).

And they made it look easy.

High school students prepare for the Critical Thinking Round of the 2024 National Economics Challenge in New York City.

Capping a school year during which nearly 8,000 students competed across the USA, teams from Mt. Hebron High School in Ellicott City, Maryland, swept the final competition in New York with first-place finishes in both of the NEC’s divisions for advanced and for first-time competitors. It’s the seventh straight NEC competition in which the Howard County public school emerged as a national champion or finalist.

Students in the Critical Thinking Round of the 2024 National Economics Challenge share their analysis of a current economic problem and present their solutions to a panel of judges.

Students from Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter, New Hampshire), BASIS Mesa (Mesa, Arizona) and Novi High School (Novi, Michigan) finished second, third and fourth in the Adam Smith advanced division. Teams from Hunter College High School (New York, NY), Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan) and Lambert High School (Suwanee, Georgia) were runners-up in the David Ricardo division.

Members of each team were allowed to confer for only seconds before jotting down responses for expert judges to instantly review. The serious but fun competition is designed to encourage a deep understanding of economics through both a case study round and the final quiz round.

High school students competing in the Quiz Bowl round of the 2024 National Economics Challenge in New York City.

“The analytic and problem-solving skills built by studying economics can be applied to issues of our day that are relevant to our students, today and in their futures,” said Nan J. Morrison, CEE president and chief executive officer.

But only half the states require a course in economics, according to CEE’s 2024 Survey of the States.

“Requiring economics and personal finance courses in all high schools gives every student the real-world skills they need to create fulfilling lives on their own terms,” Morrison added.

“We congratulate and thank the students, teachers and our CEE affiliates around the country for making economics education available and exciting through the National Economics Challenge and each and every classroom,” she said.

Winners of the Adam Smith Division and the David Ricardo Division of the 2024 National Economics Challenge.

The winners of the 2024 NEC Adam Smith Division:

First place: Mt. Hebron High School in Ellicott City, Maryland

  • Praneeth Idamakanti, Nandhu Manoj Pillai, Mehin Pandya, Diego Salamanca Murphy
  • Coach: Vann Prime

Second place: Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire

  • Steven Chen, Dhruv Nagarajan, Tanay Nandan, Eli Orbach
  • Coach: Aykut Kilinc

Third place: BASIS Mesa in Mesa, Arizona

  • Elias Chang, Vinesh Kothari, Ximo Liu, Daniel Yang
  • Coach: Greg Thorson

Fourth place: Novi High School in Novi, Michigan

  • Harsh Ahire, Lalitaditya Akkaraju Arvind Salem, Ishaan Sid
  • Coach: Darcie Moss

The top teams in this year’s NEC David Ricardo Division:

First place: Mt. Hebron High School in Ellicott City, Maryland

  • Joseph Jeong, Aarush Kejriwal, Vishva Rao, Nick Venginickal
  • Coach: Vann Prime

Second place: Hunter College High School in New York, NY

  • Xiayang Huang, Winnie Mok, Joseph Ponda, Alexie Varah
  • Coach: Ellen Fox

Third place: Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

  • Toluwani Adebayo, Pingkang Qian, Junho Seo, Alexander Wang
  • Coach: Christopher Schotten

Fourth place: Lambert High School in Suwanee, Georgia

  • Arhan Barve, Shlok Bhatt, Shivam Gupta. Balaskanda Sivanandame
  • Coach: Rupal Gupta

In subsequent international rounds, the Mt. Hebron teams also outscored China’s championship Shanghai Pinghe School team in their David Ricardo division and Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School in their Adam Smith division.

All members of the winning teams are awarded cash prizes. CNBC senior economics reporter Steve Liesman asked the questions and moderated the final rounds for both divisions which were televised live and online on CNBC.


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post National Economics Challenge Winners 2024 appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: June 11, 2024 | BY: brendan

National Personal Finance Challenge Winners 2024

By CEE

National Personal Finance Challenge

Capping a school year of tremendous strides in requiring personal finance classes in America’s high schools, 35 teams gathered in Cleveland at the Council for Economic Education’s annual National Personal Finance Challenge (NPFC) showcased how understanding money management and making informed financial choices positions young people on paths to achieve their fullest potential.

High school students competing in the 2024 National Personal Finance Challenge in Cleveland, OH.

Teams from Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and Georgia were named best in the U.S. after rising to the top in a series of statewide and then national academic championships. In all, nearly 15,000 students showcased mastery of the key building blocks of personal economic success including: earning, spending, saving, investing, and managing risk.

At the NPFC final championships, held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, semifinalists were tasked with quickly creating family financial plans, a challenge that required not only knowledge but also critical thinking. The top 16 teams then advanced to the intense “quiz bowl” lightning round where they further showcased their financial acumen. In the end, students from Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland, scored top honors. Teams from Mounds View High School of Minnesota, the Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies of New Jersey and Dunwoody High School of Georgia earned recognition as first, second and third runners-up.

“With a foundational understanding of personal finance, young people have the tools they need to make informed financial decisions and create a better life, not only for themselves but also for their families and their communities,” said Nan J. Morrison, CEE’s president and chief executive officer. “High school students who compete in the NPFC not only deepen their personal finance knowledge, but they also develop essential career skills – critical thinking, teamwork, and presentation skills.”

High school students competing in the 2024 National Personal Finance Challenge in Cleveland, OH.

A total of 35 states have moved to require personal finance courses, according to CEE’s biennial Survey of the States. The drive to provide financial education to all students in all high schools has gained momentum among parents, state legislators, education policymakers and students, but, Morrison noted, “too many kids are still left to figure out money and personal finance all by themselves. Our goal is to change that and create equitable access.”

“With a special tip of the hat to our top-scoring teams, we congratulate all the students and teachers who competed in the National Personal Finance Challenge,” Morrison added.

This year, as part of its mission to make secure financial futures possible, Voya Financial and Voya Foundation once again supported CEE’s National Personal Finance Challenge.

“Every student competing at CEE’s National Personal Finance Challenge demonstrated remarkable knowledge that will help them to successfully navigate the financial milestones they will encounter throughout their lives,” said Heather Lavallee, Voya Financial chief executive officer and CEE board member. “At Voya, we know that the benefits of financial literacy are not exclusive to any one career path, and that’s why we’re committed to working with organizations like CEE to enable all young people to study personal finance, maximize their potential, and have the best opportunity to lead financially secure lives.”

Winning schools, team members and teachers in the 2024 NPFC national finals are:

First place: Severn School, Severna Park, MD
Students: Grady Gelston, Thomas Parsch, Sam Salinas & Rowan Ward
Coach: Julien Meyer
Second place: Mounds View High School, Arden Hills, MN
Students: Victoria Farmer, Maya Gjelhaug, Katherine Schneider & Allison Yu
Coach: Aaron Oseland
Third place: Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies, Edison, NJ
Students: Isaac Chan, Srivarun Kankanala, Mahanth Komuravelli, & Arya Rathi
Coach: Nikita Patil
Fourth place: Third runner-up: Dunwoody High School, Dunwoody, GA
Students: Jonah Horwitz, Wendell Rogers & Bhavya Shah
Coach: Laura Lampron

THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 SPONSOR

About Voya Financial®

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), is a leading health, wealth and investment company with 7,200 employees who are focused on achieving Voya’s aspirational vision: Clearing your path to financial confidence and a more fulfilling life. Through products, solutions and technologies, Voya helps its 14.7 million individual, workplace and institutional clients become well planned, well invested and well protected. Benefitfocus, a Voya company, extends the reach of Voya’s workplace benefits and savings offerings by providing benefits administration capabilities to 16.5 million individual subscription employees across employer and health plan clients. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Voya is purpose-driven and equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has earned recognition as: one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute; a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index; and a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the Disability Equality Index. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (Twitter).


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post National Personal Finance Challenge Winners 2024 appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: May 21, 2024 | BY: brendan

2024 Diamond Gala

By CEE

We had fun, learned a little, and hit a new one-night fundraising record at the Council for Economic Education’s 2024 Diamond Gala! On Friday, April 30th, we celebrated CEE’s 75th year as a leader in advancing economic and financial literacy for young people. CEE was founded to ensure all students can learn foundational knowledge of personal finance and economics. These subjects help students comprehend our complex world, negotiate the decisions and changes they will inevitably face, and ultimately succeed in life. In short, economics and personal finance can work for them.

Nate DeBrine, Clare Maloney, and Steve Liesman.

The evening started with a festive cocktail hour and live music from Steve Liesman, Nate DeBrine, and Clare Maloney. Attendees were used to seeing Steve on their TV screens as CNBC’s Senior Economics Reporter and enjoyed seeing him rock the room!

CEE President and CEO, Nan Morrison, and CEE Board Chair, Rebecca Patterson, kicked off the evening’s program connecting meaningful moments in recent history with the evolution of CEE. Looking to the future, they announced our $7.5M for 75 Years Campaign to continue and expand CEE’s important work.


Teachers Marta Lieberman, Diana Isern, and Halle Amore Bauer receiving the 2024 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Teaching Champion Awards from CEE Master Teacher Kevin Morgan.

The program quickly turned its attention to teachers with the presentation of the 2024 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Teaching Champion Awards, which recognizes excellence in high school economic educators for the New York Metropolitan area. This year’s winners are:

  • Halle Amore Bauer, High School Economics and Modern World History Teacher, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Bronx, NY
  • Diana Isern, High School Personal Finance and Investments Teacher, Brooklyn Preparatory High School, Brooklyn, NY
  • Marta Lieberman, 12th grade Economics/Government and AP Economics Teacher, Francis Lewis High School, Fresh Meadows, NY

Halle Amore Bauer shared, “I want students to leave my class knowing that economics is a tool that can be used to create a more just world. A strong understanding of economic concepts like incentives, tradeoffs, and sustainability can empower students to make choices that benefit not only themselves, but humanity.”

CEE President & CEO Nan J. Morrison in conversation with Laura Adomaa, Invest in Girls student from the Frederick Douglass Academy; Victor Robila, New York State Personal Finance Challenge winner from Hunter College High School; and Lorelei Loraine, National Economics Challenge champion presently at Columbia University.

Attendees also enjoyed hearing from students who have participated in CEE programs: Laura Adomaa, Invest in Girls student from the Frederick Douglass Academy; Victor Robila, New York State Personal Finance Challenge winner from Hunter College High School; and Lorelei Loraine, National Economics Challenge champion presently at Columbia University. These students are wonderful examples of the impact CEE programs has on the lives of students and gave many of us hope for a thoughtful and productive next generation.

As part of our 75th anniversary celebration, we had a special on-stage appearance from Jay Lanstein, who was on the winning team of the inaugural National Economics Challenge, held in 2001.

Fireside Chat with Glenn Hutchins, Chairman of North Island and North Island Ventures & Co-Founder of Silver Lake, and Gary H. Stern, Former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, in conversation with Steve Leisman, CNBC Senior Economics Reporter.

We finished our evening with the Honorees Fireside Chat with Glenn Hutchins, Chairman of North Island and North Island Ventures & Co-Founder of Silver Lake, and Gary H. Stern, Former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, in conversation with Steve Leisman, CNBC Senior Economics Reporter. Glenn and Gary were recognized for their contributions and the audience enjoyed listening to their perspectives and insights on the world economy.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, CEE’s Diamond Gala hit a new record – $811,000 surpassing our evening’s goal to raise 10% of our 75th Anniversary Campaign goal of $7.5M. These donations will help CEE ensure every student in America is taught essential financial and economic basics from kindergarten through high school.

Thank you to our sponsors and to every guest who made this event such a success. We can’t wait for next year!


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post 2024 Diamond Gala appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: May 9, 2024 | BY: brendan

Why is Financial Literacy Month Important?

By CEE

April is Financial Literacy Month! For the Council for Economic Education, Financial Literacy Month is a meaningful moment to share the work we do to equip K-12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics. With a foundational understanding of personal finance, young people make informed financial decisions and create a better life, not only for themselves but those around them. But why should the rest of the U.S. celebrate this month? Because it’s a reminder about the importance of personal finance education and an opportunity to shine a spotlight on what teachers, students, and parents want to see in the classroom.

Personal finance education has become a popular cause. In a 2022 poll conducted by the National Endowment for Financial Education, 88 percent of U.S. adults agreed that their state should require a personal finance course for high school graduation. Eight in ten respondents said they wish they had been required to take at least one semester of personal finance to graduate from high school.

CEE’s biennial Survey of the States is an important benchmark for progress in K-12 economic and financial education, revealing both how far we’ve come as a country and how far we still have to go. There has been notable progress since the first survey was published in 1998 with 2023 proving to be a banner year. These survey findings reflect this positive shift, and account for both currently enacted requirements and recently signed legislation scheduled to take effect soon. Legislation requiring that all students take a stand-alone course in personal finance to graduate from high school swept the nation since the 2022 Survey of the States. In the past two years, 12 states have passed such legislation—9 of those were passed in 2023 alone. The new regulations in these 12 states will lead to over 10 million additional K-12 students—21 percent of current students—gaining guaranteed access to this knowledge. Research clearly shows the positive impact that at least a semester can have on young people’s financial decisions in early adulthood.

A critical lesson CEE has learned from our advocacy work through FinEd50, the advocacy coalition founded by CEE and Visa, is the importance of bringing diverse communities to the table in pushing for change. For example, the Pennsylvania State Education Association supported efforts to pass a new graduation requirement after ensuring that it contained key protections for teachers’ time and professional development. Teachers’ unions, often opposed to new requirements, have begun to acknowledge the importance and inevitability of personal finance requirements, as reflected by the Pennsylvania example, among others. Indicating the growing community of supporters, FinEd50 now boasts 10 members—representing diverse corporate, nonprofit, and research organizations. With calls from teachers, business leaders, community leaders, and students for all students to have this access, legislators and other state leaders have stepped up to the plate in unprecedented ways.

Nan J. Morrison, CEE President and CEO, remarked “requiring all high schools to teach principles of personal finance and economics to all students creates equity and the possibility of a brighter future for youth nationwide. Of course, requirements are only as good as their implementation – and CEE provides K-12 teachers with free, high-quality training and resources to help with that too. Let’s use financial literacy month as a time to take the next steps!”

Check out our ideas on how you can celebrate this month, whether you’re a teacher, a student, or just want to get financially savvy!

CEE’s Financial Literacy Month is generously supported by Intuit for Education.


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post Why is Financial Literacy Month Important? appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: April 12, 2024 | BY: brendan

Financial Education Requirements Soar in America’s High Schools

By CEE

Opportunities have greatly improved for young people across America to learn the essential personal finance knowledge they need to reach their full life-long economic potential. According to the Council for Economic Education’s latest biennial Survey of the States, more than two-thirds of all states are now requiring personal finance classes for high school graduation – up dramatically from 2022 when fewer than half the states had such mandates. Of these, 15 states require a semester-long course on personal finance – our gold standard.

The 2024 Survey found that 35 states now require students to take a course in personal finance to graduate, up by 12 since 2022. The new regulations in those dozen states will lead to over 10 million additional K–12 students – 21 percent of current students – gaining guaranteed access to this knowledge, the Survey notes.

“It’s been a banner two years for young people’s financial knowledge and futures,” said Nan J. Morrison, CEE president and chief executive officer. “Requiring all high schools to teach principles of personal finance and economics and all students to study it creates equity and possibility. Putting life-essential financial knowledge into the hands of more and more kids is cause for celebration.”

“We congratulate our state affiliates, legislators, governors, educators and all who joined us in bringing this to fruition,” Morrison said.

States who added personal finance requirements since the previous Survey include Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin in 2023 and Florida, Michigan and South Carolina in 2022.

In the equally important field of economics, three more states – 28 – now require some study for high school graduation, the Survey found, with some states implementing it through redesigned social studies, civics or government courses rather than an all-new class.

As former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin says in the 2024 Survey report, “Teaching our students the basics of economics and personal finance helps them make more thoughtful choices. The more individuals who make better choices, the greater the probability that we will have a resilient economy and a more effective political system.”

States that require neither personal finance nor economics for high school graduation include Colorado, Massachusetts, and Washington.

“It is encouraging to see the gap in financial education offerings to students shrinking. However, there’s still more work to be done to ensure that every young person in America has equal access to a financial education course regardless of where they live, go to school or their social and economic backgrounds,” said Worku Gachou, Head of North America, Inclusive Impact & Sustainability at Visa, which supports CEE’s Survey of the States. Visa and CEE are founding members of FinEd50, a coalition of nonprofit organizations, researchers, corporate partners and professional organizations who are dedicated to improving access to financial education for all young people.

Since 1998, CEE has collected and analyzed data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, making the biennial Survey of the States an important benchmark for tracking progress on economic and personal financial education.

Now in its 75th year, CEE also offers free educator training and classroom materials for personal finance and economics education.

“Requiring classes in personal finance and economics are significant first steps, but the requirements are only as good as their implementation– and we’re here to help with that, too,” Morrison said.

The full 2024 Survey report with detailed tables and methodology is available at SurveyOfTheStates.com; join the conversation at #SURVEYOFTHESTATES.


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post Financial Education Requirements Soar in America’s High Schools appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 26, 2024 | BY: brendan

Training Connecticut Teachers for New Personal Finance Requirement

By CEE

By Ignacio Laguarda

This article originally appeared in the Stamford Advocate.

STAMFORD — Teaching personal finance to high school students comes with plenty of challenges.

“I find it difficult because kids are coming to the class with certain values and you don’t want to disrupt the family values,” said Theresa Fischer, an adjunct professor of economics at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y. and Iona University in New Rochelle, N.Y.

On Friday, Fischer asked a class of eight high school teachers to name some of the challenges they’ve faced teaching finance to their students. The teachers were gathered at an all-day professional development workshop hosted by the New York-based Council for Economic Education at the University of Connecticut Stamford.

The workshop was the first of its kind in the state and was organized to help local educators prepare for the new state personal finance requirements for all graduating seniors, starting with the class of 2027.

The law requires students around the state to complete a half-credit course in financial literacy prior to graduation.

Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media

It’s still unclear how school districts will administer the course, as it could be offered through a variety of disciplines, such as economics, math, social studies, and others. However, everyone who attended the workshop agreed that adding personal finance to the list of student requirements is a good idea, albeit a challenge.

Teaching about stocks may not seem relevant to students from families who struggle to put food on the table, said Zeeshaan Arastu, a teacher of economics and world history at New Canaan High School.

“It’s also hard when you have a diverse group of kids in the classroom because, in addition to the values, you also have different financial situations,” Arastu said.

Other teachers in attendance agreed that teaching finance can be tricky.

“We don’t know a lot about what’s next so we’re trying to plan for what the institution wants to do in terms of offering this,” said Joel Nick, an economics teacher at Farmington High School. “We want more kids to be competent with personal finance. We think there’s big value in that.”

Mike Staffaroni, who teaches economics, civics and American history at New Canaan High School, said requiring financial literacy is a “great idea.”

“The financial world is becoming so much more complicated,” he said. “It is a fantastic and important idea that all students who graduate high school in Connecticut have some financial literacy background.”

Further, many students don’t get this sort of education elsewhere as many families do not discuss finances at home.

“It’s not something that is often brought up in families unless it’s a set discussion led by the parent,” Staffaroni said. “Talking about money is not a natural thing for many families.”

Stacia Connors, who teaches accounting, business and personal finance at Brookfield High School, said financial literacy courses for high school students can be beneficial for those students’ parents as well.

“The parents don’t really even understand personal finance,” she said, describing situations she has witnessed. “So, what happens is they’ll come to parent-teacher conferences and say, ‘My kid came home and taught me about this.’ So, the kids are actually going home and teaching their parents, which is fantastic.”

The workshop was offered at no charge and other such training sessions are in the works, said Erin Heald, senior manager of programs for CEE.

“We’re reaching out to help teachers who may be new to teaching this topic — or may not be confident managing their own personal finance — with training, lessons and curriculum so they can be effective and confident educators,” said Nan J. Morrison, CEE president and chief executive officer, in a press release. “Better prepared teachers today lead to students who can build fruitful financial lives tomorrow.” Fischer, who was the instructor of the Friday workshop, gave an example of how a family’s values can directly impact in-classroom instruction.

“I would have a student whose parents say, ‘Don’t buy anything on credit. You are never to buy anything on credit,’ ” she said. “Well, if you’re teaching credit cards, and you’re teaching interest rates, we’re having a problem here because they’re just going to turn off.”

Connors said she leads a project at her school in which she asks students to plan for their future by choosing a college or trade school to attend, joining the military or going straight to the workforce.

For the students who pick college, part of their homework is talking to their parents about how they’re going to pay for it. Sometimes, that can turn into a thorny subject.

“It becomes an uncomfortable situation for them with their parents because they’ll come back in and say ‘My parents aren’t paying for any of it,’” Connors said. “It puts them and the parents in this awkward spot.”

Connors said personal finance has been a requirement at Brookfield for about seven years now. She attended on Friday to see if the state requirements differed at all from what she’s been teaching and to learn “ways to change it up a bit” when it comes to curriculum.

For Michelle Parchesky, a math teacher at Stamford High School, the workshop was less about learning the new state requirement and more about discovering ways to implement personal finance curriculum into her classes for the benefit of her students, many of whom are recently arrived immigrants with little understanding of the English language.

“I’d like to do some personal finance with them this last quarter so they some fighting chance, especially when they go to work or want to find an apartment,” she said.


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post Training Connecticut Teachers for New Personal Finance Requirement appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 18, 2024 | BY: brendan

CEE Report Winter 2024

By CEE

In 2023, CEE moved the needle on our mission. We refreshed our content, delivered best-in-class professional development, grew student engagement significantly, and expanded access to our programming.

2024 brings excitement as we celebrate our 75th anniversary. Our mission is enduring – there is always a next generation of students to support in building lives of stability and mobility using the tools and knowledge they gain from CEE.

While we face a world with many challenges, we hope that you will continue to support our foundational work for children.


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post CEE Report Winter 2024 appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 9, 2024 | BY: brendan

Champions of Financial Literacy Breakfast 2023

By CEE

At Council for Economic Education (CEE), we believe financial knowledge is for everyone–and girls are no exception. Our student program, Invest in Girls, encourages young women to take control of their own financial futures to create positive change for themselves and their families. The Invest in Girls Champions of Financial Literacy Breakfast is our annual IIG fundraising event, which celebrates role models and advocates who see the promise in young women.

Attendees enjoying each other’s company before the start of the program

This year’s breakfast featured Valerie Mosley, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BrightUp who was interviewed by Rebecca Patterson, CEE Board Chair and Former Chief Investment Strategist at Bridgewater Associates. Their discussion underscored the significance of financial well-being and the pivotal role women can play in shaping the future of finance.

Valerie Mosley, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BrightUp with Rebecca Patterson, CEE Board Chair and Former Chief Investment Strategist at Bridgewater Associates.

The event also put a spotlight on two exceptional students, Julia and Emely, who shared their experiences as participants in the Invest in Girls program. They were in conversation with Dahiana Duarte Pena, CEE Associate Board Member and Vice President, Product Development Manager at Eastern Bank. Their stories illustrated the transformative power of IIG in fostering knowledge, confidence, curiosity, and new opportunities. Julia and Emely embody the potential that IIG unlocks for young women.

Nan J. Morrison, CEO, Council for Economic Education, Invest in Girls students Julia and Emely, and Dahiana Duarte Pena, CEE Associate Board Member and Vice President, Product Development Manager at Eastern Bank.

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and supporters, Invest in Girls can continue to keep girls connected to role models and offer them career advice and educational resources. The resounding success of this year’s fundraising efforts reflects the shared commitment to creating a future where more women thrive in finance. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a meaningful experience for all involved.

If you were not able to attend the breakfast, the opportunity to make a difference is still open! Consider making a gift today to support IIG’s ongoing efforts. Your generosity will help us reach and teach more girls.


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post Champions of Financial Literacy Breakfast 2023 appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: November 17, 2023 | BY: brendan

Econ Ed Month Student Video Contest Winners 

By CEE

In celebration of Economic Education Month in October, we invited K-12 students nationwide to participate in an economics video contest. We asked students: “What economic advice would you give to your mayor?

We received more than 400 video submissions!

The responses we received were inspiring! These students care deeply about their communities. They discussed the environment, inflation, housing shortages, ways to support local businesses, and much more. These students tackled complex economic concepts thoughtfully and with creativity.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that we present the winners of the 2023 Student Video Contest!

K-4 Winners

First Place in Grades K-4
Whittier Elementary School, Washington, DC

Second Place in Grades K-4
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School, Washington, DC

Third Place in Grades K-4
Forest Knolls Elementary School, Silver Spring, MD

5-8 Winners

First Place in Grades 5-8
Longfellow Middle School, Falls Church, VA

Second Place in Grades 5-8
Homeschooled, Baltimore, MD

Third Place in Grades 5-8
Greater Latrobe Junior High, Latrobe, PA

9-12 Winners

First Place in Grades 9-12
Suncoast Community High School, Riviera Beach, FL

Second Place in Grades 9-12
Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, WI

Third Place in Grades 9-12
Burris Laboratory School, Muncie, IN

Thank you to this esteemed group of judges for your help selecting the winning videos.

Raphael W. Bostic, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Falk Bräuning, Senior Economist and Policy Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

William C. Dudley, Ph.D, CEE Board Member and Senior Research Scholar, Princeton University

Benjamin M. Friedman, Ph.D, CEE Board Member and William Joseph Maier Professor of Political Economy, Dept. of Economics, Harvard University

Emily Kolinski Morris, Ph.D, CEE Board Member and Chief Economist, Ford Motor Company

Michelle Meyer, Chief Economist, U.S., Mastercard Economics Institute

John J. Siegfried, Ph.D, CEE Board Member and Professor Emeritus, Vanderbilt University

Congratulations to all the winners!


About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education‘s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways. We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact:

CEE: press@councilforeconed.org

The post Econ Ed Month Student Video Contest Winners appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: November 3, 2023 | BY: brendan