2012-13 Financial Literacy Innovation Grants

The Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy has awarded $250,000 in grants to enhance the level of personal finance education in 24 Wisconsin school districts representing 17 applications, Governor Scott Walker announced today. The recipients of the funding were selected out of a field of more than 50 applicants from across the state. “Financial literacy gives our students the tools they need to become prosperous, productive citizens,” Governor Walker said. “This initiative shows what can be accomplished when state agencies work together to help move our K-12 educational system forward.” The intent of the program is to support the efforts of individual teachers and school districts to begin new and sustainable financial literacy programs and events. Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to develop content and performance standards that define what students should know and be able to do related to personal financial literacy, and all applicants were required to indicate how their programs would support approved academic curriculum and integrate Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards on Personal Financial Literacy.

• Press Release announcing recipients
• 2012 Application CLOSED
• 2012 Application Process Joint Press Release
• Recipient Mid-Year Report
• Recipient Year-End Report
• Filing a Claim: PI-1086

The 2013 Money Smart Week is April 20-27, 2013.

Today’s young people face financial choices that have expanded well beyond what their parents or grandparents dealt with as teens and young adults. An estimated 80 percent of Wisconsin students work while they are in high school and nearly one-third have personal checking accounts and credit cards in their own names. From college savings plans to investment funds and various retirement accounts, to the wide range of borrowing options, students need to make wise financial decisions as they avoid excessive debt and have adequate resources to meet their personal financial goals.” said State Superintendent Tony Evers in a guest editorial for Money Smart Week, October 10-17, 2009.

Financial Literacy in Wisconsin is a PRIORITY! To best address this priority, the Department of Public Instruction is pleased to offer multiple RESOURCES for PK-12 educators to infuse into their curriculums!

Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Personal Financial Literacy   The knowledge and skills set forth in the personal financial literacy standards cross all grade levels and disciplines. A comprehensive, developmentally appropriate pre-kindergarten through grade 12 program can promote peronal financial literacy throughout numerous curricular areas. Educators from all grade levels can use the financial literacy standards to align instruction and create curriculum and activities designed to instill within students a desire to be financially literate. The stardards are intended to help schools develop programs that provide the knowledge and skills to establish sound financial habits. Locate the standards electronically here. Or purchase the complete document through DPI Publications.

Planning Curriculum in Personal Financial Literacy   Developed to be used with the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Personal Financial Literacy, the Planning Curriculum in Personal Financial Literacy can help guide districts and educators in the planning of a program and lessons to promote financial literacy PK-12. Forward Introduction: Defining Financial Literacy Chapter 1: Building an Effective Financial Literacy Program Chapter 2: Planning Instruction in Financial Lieteracy--Units, Resources, and Activities Chapter 3: Creating Assessments in Financial Literacy Chapter 4: Designing Professional Development to Promote Understanding Appendix A: Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Personal Financial Literacy Appendix B: Sample Activities That Connect to Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards Appendix C: A Checklist of Ideas and Suggestions for Parents, Students, Teachers, and Community Appendix D: Ideas for Moving Forward with Financial Literacy Education Appendix E: Sample Activities for Each of the Content Standards Appendix F: Sample Common Rubric/Portfolio Rubric Appendix G: Individual Student Growth Appendix H: Resources Appendix H Updated 2012: Resources Or purchase the complete document through DPI Publications.

Financial Literacy: TEACH IT! As a companion to the standards and curriculum guide, the Department of Public Instruction, in conjunction the Educational Communications Board (ECB), presents Financial Literacy: TEACH IT! This web link provides educators with resources and professional development to effectively teach financial literacy. The web site features twenty-one lessons taped in Wisconsin’s elementary, middle and high school classrooms. Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards for Personal Financial Literacy serve as the foundation for this multi-media resource. Financial Literacy: TEACH IT! débuted during Money Smart Week, beginning Sunday, October 11, 2009.

Further Resources

Personal Finance Survey

A survey of the businessed list serv was conducted to gather information about school districts offering personal finance courses. Responses were summarized into report format including: school district, name of course, department responsible for course, duration of course, grades offered, and requirement for graduation.
Personal Finance Report [.pdf, 40K, 17 pages] (revised November 2011)
Click here for helpful resources that show that teaching financial literacy is effective.
School Districts in Wisconsin with Credit Unions [.pdf, 44K]

Joint DPI/DFI Editorial

State Superintendent Tony Evers and Department of Financial Institutions Secretary Peter Bildsten issued an editorial on the importance of teaching personal financial literacy in school. “Students who are financially literate when they graduate from high school will be better equipped to handle the economic decisions they will face as adults,” they said. Additional information is available in the editorial on the Department of Public Instruction newsroom website http://eis.dpi.wi.gov/files/eis/pdf/dpinr2012_23.pdf

Click here: for information on Reality Stores and links to Calendar of Events around the state.

For further information about Personal Financial Litearcy in Wisconsin, contact: