MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) said they have created a $150,000 statewide grant program to encourage Wisconsin’s K-12 school districts to incorporate personal finance education into their curricula.
“The Financial Literacy Innovation Grants are an exciting opportunity for schools to build new programs and teach students about the world of personal finance,” said DFI Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld, in a statement. “Financial literacy is an important life skill that helps students take control of their financial future and be knowledgeable consumers when they reach adulthood. This program reinforces our continued commitment to educating Wisconsin’s K-12 students about personal financial matters.”
Open to public and private schools in Wisconsin, the grant program is designed to help teachers adopt and implement the Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards on Personal Financial Literacy (PFL) in their classrooms, and in partnership with their communities, according to the state.
The Goal
The goal is for individual teachers and school districts to bring new and sustainable financial literacy programs and events into classrooms across the state.
Teachers in K-12 school districts are eligible to apply for grants up to $10,000 per school. A school district may submit proposals at each school level: elementary, middle, and high school for a maximum award of $30,000 per district. Grants will be awarded to implement a new personal financial literacy course as a high school graduation requirement; for innovative projects to be created or expanded in Wisconsin classrooms; and for the creation of student-run financial institutions.
For info: www.dpi.wi.gov/finance/grants. The deadline to apply is April 15.
DPI said it will evaluate all applications received based upon clearly established criteria, and then recommendations will be brought to the Governor's Council on Financial Literacy. A sub-committee of the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy will review DPI’s recommendations and select the final grant recipients.