Iowa Jump$tart Coalition

Registration is open for a scholarship that offers Iowa high school seniors a chance to receive $2,000 for college while learning important financial literacy skills. In addition, each recipient’s high school will receive a corresponding $500 award.

High school seniors may register for the Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship online between now and March 4.

Iowa Student Loan® will award $2,000 scholarships to 30 students who complete two online financial literacy tutorials and score highest on a related assessment. Registered students also receive emails highlighting financial literacy tips, such as the importance of early career and college planning and ways to reduce student loan indebtedness.

After registering for the scholarship, students receive emailed instructions for completing the three online components. Two tutorials — the newly revised Student Loan Game PlanSM and the ROCI Reality Check — were developed by Iowa Student Loan to help students understand the consequences of college borrowing and discover how to maximize their return on college investment, or ROCI.

Click here to learn more and to register.

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New Tool Helps Teachers Review Financial Literacy Curriculum

November 2, 2015 iowajumpstart

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has released a new tool that educators can use to evaluate financial education curriculum for students. The curriculum review tool will help educators identify effective and unbiased material to increase the financial capability of students. By providing relevant evaluation criteria, the tool can help educators judge the value of financial education material for their students.

“Helping young people develop their financial capability early will prepare them for important financial decisions they will face in the future,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “The curriculum review tool we are releasing today will help educators determine which financial education curriculum best suits their students.”

Research links high school financial education courses with increased savings and wealth accumulation later in life. When attempting to find financial education material for their students, educators are often faced with the challenge of having to choose a suitable curriculum from a wide range of providers with few guidelines on how to select the most appropriate curriculum. This tool is designed to help.

Click here to learn more.

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Register by Oct. 16 for Financial Literacy Fair for Iowa Educators

October 16, 2015 iowajumpstart

Get financial literacy tools and resources you can use in your classroom! Sign up now to attend a day-long, financial literacy professional development program at Iowa Western Community College in Atlantic on Oct. 20.

Each session will include classroom content and will offer helpful tools and resources. Resources will include lesson plans, whiteboard applications, videos, and more. All resources meet the Iowa Core Curriculum 21st Century Skills standards.

There is no charge for the program, but registration is required by Friday, Oct. 16. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to patty.fleming@tsinstitute.org.

Presenters include Kevin Shields, Community Affairs Specialist at the FDIC, Dr. Cindy Fletcher, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Iowa State University, Bob Mantell and Kyle Osborne of TS Institute, and Joanne Kuster, president of DynaMinds Publishing and chairperson of Iowa Money Smart Week.

Event Details:
October 20, 2015 | 8:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
705 WALNUT ST. | ATLANTIC, IA 50022
Agenda: http://www.tsinstitute.org/professional-development/

Financial Literacy Tools, Iowa Jump$tart Information

Visit 140 Colleges in One Day

September 16, 2015 iowajumpstart

The Golden Circle College Fair is traditionally the largest in Iowa, and is sponsored by Iowa College Access Network and supported by Iowa Student Loan, both members of the Iowa Jump$tart Coalition. Last year, 140 colleges and universities exhibited to more than 2,000 students and family members. Take advantage of this chance to speak one-on-one with school representatives from across the country, and attend breakout sessions on planning for college.

The 25th Annual Golden Circle College Fair
Golden Circle College Fair
Iowa Events Center – Hy-Vee Hall
Des Moines
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015
12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Visit Golden Circle College Fair to learn more.

Member Minute, News/Accolades

Member Spotlight: Iowa Insurance Division

September 16, 2015 iowajumpstart

The Iowa Insurance Division has been a strong advocate for financial literacy since being a founder of the Iowa JumpStart Coalition in 2000. Representing the Iowa Insurance Division is Craig Goettsch, Education and Budget Director. Craig has served as Iowa JumpStart secretary for more than 10 years, and continues to lead JumpStart’s membership committee.

Craig has been actively involved in nearly every JumpStart initiative, including funding programs, speaking, serving on committees, being an officer, drafting policies and by-laws, and providing counsel. He has been a leader and advocate for all of JumpStart’s annual conferences for teachers and for the annual Money Smart Week Iowa. In addition, Craig is a founder and trustee of the Investor Protection Trust, served as President of the North American Securities Administrators Association, served on numerous NASAA committees and on the Board of Directors. A graduate of the University of Iowa law school, Craig has also served as an adjunct professor and taught securities law at Drake Law School and the University of Iowa Law School. Under Craig’s direction, the Iowa Insurance Division has raised awareness for financial literacy across the state, with major initiatives for numerous programs in schools, educational organizations and nonprofits, and collaborations with other government agencies.

Find more information about the Iowa Insurance Division at: http://www.iid.state.ia.us/

Iowa Jump$tart Information, Scholarships

Iowa teachers earn scholarships to attend National Jump$tart Educators Conference

September 14, 2015 iowajumpstart

Pictured left to right are scholarship winners Carla Madson of the Urbandale Community School District, April Moffitt of the Emmetsburg Community School District, Jen Snyder of the Colfax-Mingo School District, LaRae Arment of the Alburnett Community School District, David Becker of the Ottumwa School District, and Iowa Jump$tart President Mary Sandvig.

Five Iowa teachers have received scholarships from Iowa Jump$tart to attend the National Jump$tart Educators Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in November. Scholarship winners are winners Carla Madson of the Urbandale Community School District, April Moffitt of the Emmetsburg Community School District, Jen Snyder of the Colfax-Mingo School District, LaRae Arment of the Alburnett Community School District, and David Becker of the Ottumwa School District. This conference will bring together hundreds of educators from across the country whose work gives students a successful financial future.

“Financial education is critical to the future success of Iowa students. It is also important to equip Iowa teachers with the resources they need for teaching financial literacy,” said Mary Sandvig, president of Iowa Jump$tart. “The National Jump$tart Conference provides a wealth of tools and information to help teachers help their students build a strong foundation when it comes to financial education. At Iowa Jump$tart, we are happy to help Iowa teachers with this scholarship to attend.”

Five scholarships in total were provided by Iowa Jump$tart to Iowa teachers to attend the national conference, which will take place Nov. 6-8. The conference provides preK-12 teachers with financial education resources, personal and professional development and a nationwide network of colleagues supporting financial education.

Iowa Jump$tart Information

Personal Financial Literacy Conference Highlights

July 20, 2015 iowajumpstart

More than 104 educators and business professionals registered to attend Iowa Jump$tart’s 2015 Personal Financial Literacy Conference at DMACC in Ankeny on July 16. The conference included a full-day of speakers and exhibitors sharing financial literacy information and resources to help promote financial education in schools. Five Iowa teachers also were awarded scholarships from Iowa Jump$tart to attend the National Jump$tart Educators Conference Nov. 6-8 in Maryland.

See photo highlights below:

Financial Literacy Tools, Helpful Information, Iowa Jump$tart Information

Jump Into Financial Literacy at Iowa Jump$tart’s Personal Financial Literacy Conference!

July 1, 2015 iowajumpstart

Don’t miss your opportunity to attend Iowa Jump$tart’s Annual Conference for Personal Financial Literacy July 16 at the FFA Enrichment Center in the Ankeny DMACC campus. This conference is designed especially for educators, and provides a wealth of programs and materials to help teach financial literacy. Keynote sessions will include Mike Finley (aka the Crazy Man in the Pink Wig), Lincoln Hughes of EverFi and Robert Kinzer of the FDIC. There will also be a number of breakout sessions featuring a variety of free tools and resources you can use. In addition, K-12 educators have a chance to win a sponsorship to the national Jump$tart Conference in November.

Click here to learn more and to register.

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Spring Edition of Money Smart News Now Available

June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 iowajumpstart

The spring edition of Money Smart News, a financial literacy resource provided by the FDIC, features two youth-focused initiatives and resources. The first, Money Smart for Young People, is a new set of educational materials for teachers, parents, and caregivers that can be used to educate children on how to manage their money. The second, Youth Savings Pilot Program, promotes access to financial services for young people by connecting financial education in schools with the opportunity to open bank accounts and begin saving money. “By engaging young people and their parents in discussions about key financial concepts and choices, we hope to enhance their financial capability and improve the likelihood that children and families will participate in the mainstream financial system,” said Mark Pearce, director at the FDIC. “In addition to the benefits of safety and security, the FDIC believes that an account with an insured depository institution can be a stepping stone to economic opportunity.”

Click here to access the financial literacy resources available in the spring edition of Money Smart News.

Iowa Jump$tart Information, News/Accolades

Iowa Jump$tart Receives $1,000 Award from Veridian Credit Union

June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 iowajumpstart

The Iowa Jump$tart coalition would like to thank Veridian Credit Union for its generous $1,000 award to help support Iowa Jump$tart financial literacy initiatives. The award was recently presented by Veridian to Iowa Jump$tart Coalition President Mary Sandvig (pictured left).