The 13th Annual National Economics Challenge culminates with an exciting quiz bowl this Sunday, May 19 at 3:00pm ET. More than 10,000 students from 40 states participated in this year’s competition, and only eight teams will vie for the title of National Champions in New York City this weekend.

CEE asked the eight Finalist teams to prepare a video profile that shows who they are as people, students and scholars. Get over to our Facebook page and vote for your favorite team. The team with the most votes will receive a $100 Amazon gift certificate for their school and a $25 iTunes gift card for each student from the team.

The Finalist teams are:

DAVID RICARDO DIVISION (single semester general economics students)

• Carmel High School, Carmel, Indiana
• Lexington High School, Lexington, Massachusetts
• Little Falls Community High School, Little Falls, Minnesota
• Olympia High School, Olympia, Washington

ADAM SMITH DIVISION (AP, IB and honors students)

• Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, Connecticut
• Iolani School, Honolulu, Hawai’i
• Mounds View High School, Arden Hills, Minnesota
• Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville, Maryland

You can VOTE once each day until Tuesday, May 21, 11:59pm ET. We’ll announce the winning team on Wednesday.

This video contest has no influence on National Economics Challenge testing and judging.

POSTED: May 13, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: 9-12, Contest, economics, economics challenge, Students, video

Dear Friends,

Hi, my name is Sandra Wright. When I was a new teacher (15 years ago!), CEE materials were on the cutting edge of educational best practices with accurate economic and financial content. It was so helpful to have lessons and activities that were grounded in sound economic thinking and pedagogy. Now as an experienced teacher, I still use the lesson plans and student resources in the Capstone Book, Economics in Action, and each edition of AP Economics. The lessons I used at the beginning of my career that helped foster student engagement with the economics content are the lessons I go back to semester after semester.

One former student said, “I realize not only that I can’t have everything, but also that I need to prioritize what I want so that I can make good decisions along the way to get me to where I want to be.”

CEE continues to help teachers close the gap between what students know about economics and finance, and what they need to know. They do this by educating the teachers: providing the curriculum tools, the pedagogical support, and the community of peers who instruct, inspire, and guide. I believe that CEE delivers the fourth “R”—a real-world understanding of how to build fruitful lives to America’s young people.

Please join me in the effort to keep opportunity and optimism alive for America’s youth. And remember, all gifts received by June 30th will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $175,000.

Sincerely,

Sandra K. Wright, PhD
President
GATE (Global Association for Teachers of Economics)

POSTED: May 9, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: Challenge Grant, Donate, economics, Financial Literacy, Lessons, personal finance, Students, teacher resources, teachers

April was Financial Literacy Month, and educators, families, non-profit organizations and businesses across the country rallied in support of financial education.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress released The Nation’s Report Card: Economics 2012, Grade 12 at the end of April. These tests are administered by the National Assessment Governing Board, who develop assessment frameworks in mathematics, reading, writing, science, geography, U.S. history, civics, economics, the arts and technological literacy.

Students’ scores of economic literacy changed little between 2006 and 2012, suggesting that the national discussion about the millions of jobs that were lost and homes that were foreclosed didn’t translate to higher academic achievement. During that period, several states added an economics course to high school offerings and some started requiring it to earn a diploma.

The article “Recession doesn’t change students’ econ savvy” shares thoughts from financial literacy and economic education leaders, including Annamaria Lusardi, CEE board member, and Nan J. Morrison, CEE’s President and CEO.

CEE’s work has been mentioned specifically by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke; “Financial education supports not only individual well-being, but also the economic health of our nation,” Bernanke told a town hall-style meeting with teachers in 2012. “As the recent financial crisis illustrates, consumers who can make informed decisions about financial products and services not only serve their own best interests, but, collectively, they also help promote broader economic stability.”

POSTED: May 6, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: CEE Board, CEO, economics, Federal Reserve, Financial Literacy, partners, Students, teachers

By Dr. Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia Department of Education.

It is always satisfying to watch a student’s face light up when he or she grasps a previously baffling concept or idea.

Even more satisfying is the moment when a student not only “gets it,” but also understands why something is worth knowing and how it might make a difference in his or her own life.

Empowering students was the goal of Virginia’s 2013 Governor’s Challenge in Economics and Personal Finance in April.  I had the privilege of addressing high school students from across the Commonwealth who had triumphed in the online portion of the competition and were battling it out in the championship rounds at Virginia Commonwealth University. Their energy was contagious, and I was impressed by their command of this critical subject matter.

The Governor’s Challenge, sponsored in partnership with the Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE), highlights real-world financial skills and economic concepts that the state Board of Education incorporated into a now-required high school course in economics and personal finance.

By passing the course, students will come to understand their role and opportunities in the global marketplace. They will acquire the foundational knowledge needed to make smart decisions as adults about spending, saving, investing, risk taking and, even, starting a business.

Meet the 2013 Governor’s Challenge state champions – Western Albemarle High School:

Partnerships allow us to draw upon existing strengths between school divisions, government, the private sector, and groups with specific expertise such as the Council for Economic Education and VCEE.  Together, we can maximize our investments and equip more students with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to prosper and secure financial independence.

POSTED: May 2, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: Awards, Contest, Councils & Centers, economics, Governor's Challenge, personal finance, Students, video

We depend on donors to continue to utilize the best educational technology, build new programs to meet evolving needs, and develop the most up-to-date resources. Thanks to the generosity of our donor, Scott Booth, and our Board Co-Chairman, Barry Haimes, all gifts received by June 30 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $175,000.

Here are some ways that you can invest in a brighter future for our kids:

• $150 donation trains one teacher in interactive classroom learning activities. That teacher will reach 50-150 students each year.
• $500 donation outfits a classroom with books and materials about earning, saving, investing and managing money.
• $1,250 provides a full scholarship for a teacher to attend CEE’s highly regarded 52^nd Annual Financial Literacy and Economic Education Conference, where educators share best practices and receive training on new resources.

For more information, please contact Tarnisha Smart, Director of Development.

POSTED: May 1, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: CEE Board, Challenge Grant, economics, Financial Literacy, personal finance, Students, teachers

By Andrew Hill, Economic Education Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia; and Adjunct Professor of Economics at Temple University.

Cocktail party conversation can often be difficult for even the most adept conversationalists among us. When meeting new people, an unavoidable topic is always what you do for a living. I was trained in graduate school to expect people to respond in unpredictable ways when I explain that I am an economist. Read more…

POSTED: April 30, 2013 | BY: Leslie Rasimas | TAGS: Councils & Centers, economics, Federal Reserve, Financial Literacy, financial literacy month, parents, partners, personal finance, Students, teachers