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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.

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.

APPLY TO BE A PRESENTER

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

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.

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.”

Based off of this study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Click on the graphic to view details. Check it out!

• 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.

“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.

View the Ames Tribune Article here.