Worldwide, only one-third of adults understand basic financial concepts.

In 2020, states that required high school students to take a personal finance course increased by 24 percent from 2018.

Personal finance is a vital part of not only managing day-to-day financial needs but also planning a financial future. The sooner students can gain an understanding of personal finance, the better their long-term financial prospects will be for things like investing or planning for retirement. Stephenville High School teacher Kristie Aparicio saw a need and a want to learn financial literacy, and reached out to us about making it happen. Of course we listened.

In what ways does The Budget Challenge implement learning? 

The grant money will go toward students learning personal finance and that it is all about priorities and trade-offs. The simulation scoring and metrics encourage positive behaviors and discourage counterproductive behaviors. Student priorities: Pay bills on time, Minimize fees. Prepare for unexpected events. Manage a credit card balance Maximize retirement savings into 401(k). Maintain a Budget and Cash Flow Spreadsheet, or comparable tool to track income and expenses. Reconcile the tracking tool regularly. Research quiz topics independently.

The best way to learn personal finance is through experiencing it first-hand. This simulation immerses students into financial life as an adult, so they can go through the actions of paying bills, saving for retirement and dealing with unexpected events while having a teacher to support them through the process.

Help Stephenville Education Take Flight

Community support through parents, teachers, educational foundations, and community leaders has proven results in student attendance, grades, and district achievements.

Consider getting involved and making a difference in Stephenville ISD. Large or small, every dollar matters because every student matters. Together, let’s make education take flight!