The MISSION of the Michigan Jumpstart Coalition

Video is 3.5 minutes .

 

Is financial literacy a threat to politicians?

By Mark C. Schug, Dwight R. Lee and William C. Wood             April 5, 2012

According to the calendar, April is National Financial Literacy Month. According to schools, it isn't.

About half of high school students say they've never learned economics in school; those who do often receive no exposure to the subject until their junior or senior years. Even fewer students ever take a course in personal finance.  Read more.

 

New 9-12 Grade Practical Money Skills Course Release at White House Summit

Visa's new 9 – 12 grade classroom curriculum was unveiled at the White House Summit on Financial Capability & Empowerment May 10. The robust, standards-aligned curriculum features 22 lessons with instructors' guides, student-centered activities, ideas for extending learning, up-to-date resources and more. Educators can utilize the free lessons in sequence or individually. Find out more

 

 

 

Financial Literacy and Education Summit 2012 On-Demand Video Available

The sixth annual global 2012 Financial Literacy and Education Summit, entitled International Solutions to Improving Financial Literacy, took place at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on April 23. If you missed the event, you can view the on-demand video here. The Summit, co-hosted by Visa Inc., featured discussions by leading financial literacy experts who addressed potential solutions to improving financial literacy for citizens around the world. To find out more about the Summit or to invite a friend or colleague to watch the webcast, visit the Summit site here.

Mr. Stafford went to Washington by Tom Leyden wxyz.com, 5/9/2012

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford joined Redskins linebacker London Fletcher and Michigan Congressman Gary Peters on a tour of The Pentagon and The White House this afternoon, where the trio showcased a special video game created by Visa that’s designed to teach kids the ins and outs of financial responsibility.

The game, called Financial Football,helps students and adults tackle their financial futures.  The game incorporates lessons taught through Practical Money Skills for Life ( www.practicalmoneyskills.com ), a free, award-winning money management program.  This game is accompanied by a classroom curriculum.

“Make them understand the importance of financial education and learning what’s important and what’s going to make them successful in life,” said Stafford.  “I think that’s a mission that all of us need to take a hand in and help these kids along.”

“Visa is promoting this program,” said Peters. “It will be giving this program to schools throughout Michigan, throughout the greater Detroit area.  And to have Matthew Stafford here playing with a number of young people, it really shows that learning about financial literacy can be something that’s exciting, that’s fun, and it doesn’t make your eyes glaze over.  You can actually have fun playing football.”
Read more: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/sports/matthew-stafford-visits-pentagon-white-house#ixzz1ucfSlPBw

 

How to Fix Our Math Education
NYTimes OP-ED Contribution by SOL GARFUNKEL and DAVID MUMFORD
Published August 24, 2011

THERE is widespread alarm in the United States about the state of our math education. The anxiety can be traced to the poor performance of American students on various international tests, and it is now embodied in George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind law, which requires public school students to pass standardized math tests by the year 2014 and punishes their schools or their teachers if they do not.

All this worry, however, is based on the assumption that there is a single established body of mathematical skills that everyone needs to know to be prepared for 21st-century careers. This assumption is wrong. The truth is that different sets of math skills are useful for different careers, and our math education should be changed to reflect this fact. Read more.

 

Consumer Tips on Identity Theft Protection

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the country and it affects thousands of consumers.  Criminals use your personal information to raid your bank account and to purchase expensive electronic gear.  See page 8 of our February newsletter for suggestions on how you can protect your identity.

 

 

Protect Your Kids from Identity Theft

We've all been warned to protect our personal information from identity theft, but we don't always apply the same standards to our kids. Find out how you can protect your child's identity in addition to your own.  Listen now to this Practical Money Matters Podcast.

 

 

Library Presentation to Memorial Elementary in Riverview

On Wednesday, February 9, 2012 an elementary library was presented to Memorial Elementary School in Riverview, MI.  The MoneySmart library was given by First Community Federal Credit Union which was represented by MaryAnn Hammons.  Lynn Ryan was there on behalf of the Michigan Jumpstart Coalition.  The principal, Mrs. Nancy Holloway, was very excited and grateful for the wonderful gift. She spent time with the children that run the in-school banking program to discuss the need for and value of personal finance education.  This is one of five libraries that First Community Federal Credit Union has given in the Downriver area.

 

 

Avondale Elementary Receives MoneySmart Library

On January 23, 2012, a MoneySmart Kids Library was presented to Avondale Academy in Auburn Hills, MI. The library was donated by Baker College of Auburn Hills. In attendance to present the library were Jeff Love, president and Elizabeth Rumschlag from Baker College and Lynn Ryan of the Michigan Jumpstart Coalition.  The library was received by Mr. Chuck Granger, principal of Avondale Academy,  while superintendent George Heitsch looked on.  Click here for pictures.

 

 

 

Teaching Skills for the Classroom

Detroit, MI – November 15, 2011                   

Detroit Lions’ Suh, State Treasurer Dillon, Michigan Jump$tart Coalition, and Visa Inc. Collaborate to Launch Statewide Rollout of Financial Football

 

     Money Management Video Game to Improve the Financial Literacy of Michigan Teenagers

Read Article.  Play Financial Football.  See FOX 2 video of the event.

 

 

Attention Middle School and High School Teachers

Exciting new offerings are now available from the non-profit Life Foundation and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. NextGen3, a DVD and web-based program covers five critical areas teens need to address when planning for the future, including financial planning basics.  The FED's lesson kit covers the role of our nation's central bank and it introduces the concept of inflation.  Click here for more info.

 

 

Money Smart Longitudinal Study Research Project  [Announced Sept. 2, 2011]

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will be conducting a study to evaluate how the Money Smart for Young Adults curriculum impacts how participants handle money.  We are currently recruiting sites that plan to use this curriculum over the next several months with students ages 14 to 18.  Selected sites will be asked to provide information about their use of the curriculum, and to have their students take pre- and post-training surveys through which we will measure their financial knowledge and behavior.

 

All selected sites will receive a stipend in appreciation for their willingness to help with this important research effort. The results of the study will inform any future changes to the curriculum, and will also be disseminated to the financial education community nationwide.  Click here for details.

 

 

 

Have you looked at this newsletter lately?  Financial Fridays is published by National Jump$tart.  Each week, one Jump$tart national partner is featured in the newsletter. This week the focus is on IL-based Money Savvy Generation, who has been developing innovative products and services to help parents, educators and others teach kids the skills of basic personal finance since 1999.

• Michigan Jump$tart Coalition Current Newsletter

• The Changing Behavior of First Year College Students: Three Years and One Financial Crisis Later
  This webinar recording discusses the latest findings on the changing financial attitudes and behaviors of 2000 members of University of Arizona Freshman Class of 2007-2008.   Amy Broekhuizen, Family and Consumer Science teacher in the Kentwood School District and Michigan Jump$tart member, has this to say about the presentation.

• Practical Money Matters Pod-cast:
  What An Allowance Can Teach Kids
  
  Handled right, allowances provide a great opportunity for kids to learn about money management and personal responsibility. Find out how an allowance can teach kids important lessons about money before the stakes get too high. Listen now

• President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy Issues Annual Report – Includes 15 Recommendations for Improving Financial Literacy for All Americans

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