Conference Registration is now OPEN!
Register for the 12th Annual Iowa JumpStart Financial Literacy Conference by going to this link:
Once again there is no conference fee to attend. Only register if you know you will be able to attend. Please send us an email if you need to cancel.
Iowa Jump$tart’s Educator Conference Date Announced
Save the date!! Iowa Jump$tart will host their 12th Annual Financial Literacy Conference on
July 20, 2012
The location of the conference will be at the DMACC in Ankeny. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
We are currently looking for presenters for the conference. If you have a presentation regarding financial literacy, please consider applying to speak at the conference. Click on the link below to apply.
Retired soldier is passionate about financial literacy
A recent article in the Cedar Valley News (WCFCourier.com) shows the ambition and drive of a man dedicated to teach financial literacy. Read this amazing story. You will be inspired too. It is great to see other people as passionate about financial literacy as we are!
Read About it here: http://wcfcourier.com/business/local/retired-soldier-teaching-students-financial-literacy/article_526635c3-a390-5abf-949c-7208a1e868cb.html#ixzz1rloKNvED
April is Financial Literacy Awareness Month
On March 28th, Governor Brandstad proclaimed April as Financial Literacy Awareness Month.
We want everyone in Iowa to know how important financial literacy is to the individual and the community. We will continue to promote skills in financial literacy. Hopefully this proclamation will help Iowan’s see how serious the governor and community is in acheiving this goal.
A group of Financial Literacy advocates was present for the signing. It included several members of the JumpStart Board. Also present was Roxanne Kucharski, counselor from Des Moines East High school, and three of her students who attended the ceremony. These three students are enrolled in a personal finance course at East.
Try This Challenge to Win $1000 For Your School!
Your school could have a chance at $1,000 when your students demonstrate smart financial know-how in the National Financial Capability Challenge between March 12 and April 13. Enroll at www.challenge.treas.gov.
The National Financial Capability Challenge encourages educators to teach high school students about the basics of personal finance so they can take control of their financial futures. The U.S. Department of the Treasury in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education offers comprehensive lesson plans and sample test questions in the Educator Toolkit.
“The Challenge has proven to be a very effective tool that fits well within our financial literacy program at Treynor Community Schools,” said Bob Mantell, financial literacy director at Treynor High School. “Last year, 102 of our students participated with 27 scoring in the top 20%.”
Money for Your School
If at least one student from your school scores in the top 20% nationally, your school will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win one of 30 cash prizes. Each winning school will earn $1,000 total for its financial literacy programs and scholarship fund. To be eligible, make sure your students authorize the release of their scores when they take the online test.
The drawing is open only to participating Iowa high schools and is sponsored by Iowa Student Loan®, the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Jump$tart, Junior Achievement of Central Iowa and the Iowa College Access Network.
Recognition for Student Knowledge
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Education recognizes participating schools by providing award certificates to educators and top-scoring students at each school. In addition, schools and states with the highest participation rates earn special distinction.
Flexible Lessons and Scheduling
Use your own curriculum or lessons provided by the Challenge organizers to teach personal finance know-how — one of the most important skills for your students’ futures. Then, have your students take the 30-minute online exam any time between March 12 and April 13.
Simple Signup
Just go to www.challenge.treas.gov to enroll as an educator and gain access to sample test questions, lesson plans and the online test.
All high school educators are encouraged to sign up to administer the Challenge to their students and to help spread the word to other high school educators in their area.
“The National Financial Capability Challenge was a great opportunity for students at Gilbert High School to demonstrate their knowledge of consumer economic principles,” said Betsy Ratashak, family and consumer sciences instructor at Gilbert High School. “We have participated in the Challenge twice, and students were proud of their ability to perform well on a standards-based national exam. It provided evidence of educational effectiveness to students, parents and administrators alike.”
Iowans’ Financial Literacy Higher than Most
Awesome job parents and teachers!! View this KCRG News story to see how Iowans are ranking high against other states on Financial Literacy and Behaviors.
Based off of this study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
National Educator Conference in D.C.
Thank you teachers, sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, volunteers, and friends who participated in the 2011 Jump$tart National Educator Conference at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, on November 4-6.
Click on the graphic to view details. Check it out!
11th ANNUAL JUMP$TART FINANCIAL LITERACY CONFERENCE
The 11th Annual JumpStart Financial Literacy Conference was held July 21, 2011 at DMACC in Ankeny with nearly 100 attendees. HIghlights of the conference included presenations by:
- Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds
- Keynote speaker Syble Solomon, creator of Money Habitudes™.
- Adam Carroll of National Financial Educators on Planning Your Financial Life.
- Teacher Samy El-Baroudi (last year’s Iowa Jump$tart Financial Educator of Year).
- Teachers Teresa Nennig of Independence and Rhonda Schmaltz of Ames, who enjoyed an Iowa Jump$tart expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the November 2010 National Jump$tart Educator Conference in Washington D.C.
- Several other financial professionals who made workshop presentations about available finanical literacy materials.
Statewide Financial Literacy Program Launches
Governor Branstad today announced the launch of the Iowa Financial Literacy Program, an online program to teach Iowa students the core concepts of personal finance. The program is free to students, thanks to a federal grant and a public-private partnership between the College Student Aid Commission and many other organizations, banks, credit unions and companies.
“Financial education is becoming increasingly important, especially in today’s economy,” said Branstad. “By educating Iowa’s youth, they will be better prepared ot make important choices about finances in the future.”
Developed by EverFi, Inc., the online tool uses the latest in new media technology to teach, assess and certify students in grades 11 to 12 in more than 600 core concepts. It will be accessed at www.IHaveAPlanIowa.gov.
Winner of trip to D.C. featured in the Newspaper
Rhonda Schmaltz, one of our two winners of an expense paid trip to the Jump$tart 2010 National Educator Conference, was featured in the Ames Tribune. She talks about her experience at the conference and her Financial Literacy class.
