Sauk Prairie School District partners with business community (The Sauk Prairie Eagle)

“The Sauk Prairie Economic Empowerment Project was created about six years ago with the mission to help prepare youth for college, the job market and social interactions they are likely to encounter in the future. The two-day program is held in conjunction with Sauk Prairie High School economics teacher Joel Chrisler’s [Editor: Joel is an NGPF Fellow] unit on careers. The idea came after a push from the state requiring schools to teach financial literacy to students.

The program received a Governor’s Office on Financial Literacy Award in 2016… With the guidance of local business leaders, students run through job interview scenarios, the importance of eye contact and soft skills, how to make chance or planned encounters with people work for them, how to dress for an interview and what things someone can do to prepare for one.”

Byron High School gets grant for food truck (Post Bulletin)

“Several years ago, Byron High School family and consumer science (FACS) teacher Ryan Radke was eating at a food truck and thought, ‘This would be such a cool hands-on learning experience. It would be great for students interested in the culinary arts but also anyone wanting to start their own business.’ ‘We want the students to network, possibly advertise, and then spread the word through social media…’ Ideally, the trailer will be self-sustaining and will help students learn the ins and outs of starting up their own businesses.

Superintendent Joey Page has high hopes for the project. ‘Creating startup businesses not only provides students with real-world “resume-ready” learning experience but could, long-term, lead to an increase in growth and economic development in rural communities. Students will be equipped with the design thinking methodologies and foundational knowledge of running their own business, and we desire to foster and grow our nation’s next generation of entrepreneurs.’”

Fayette Business Education Partnership adds programs in 2019 to help bolster career readiness (Herald Standard)

A coalition aimed at joining education and business leaders to drive workforce development and career readiness among Fayette County youth is set to kick off 2019 with a flurry of activity to provide area students and teachers with developmental opportunities. Highlights for first quarter include the sixth annual Fayette County Business Pitch Competition, a county-wide tenth-grade career fair and a business education seminar.

Other programs and initiatives planned for the year include: Teacher in the Workplace presentation, the final portion of a 2018 pilot program for educators to interact with local manufacturing and health care businesses to improve career readiness instruction, Feb 12. Entrepreneurship is Elementary, a new component of the Fayette County Business Pitch Competition to introduce entrepreneurship at the elementary level, spring.

New law promotes personal finance education in schools (Gloucester Times)

A new law aims to give Massachusetts students the tools they need to navigate their financial futures, including milestones like buying a home and planning for retirement. The law, signed by Gov. Charlie Baker last week, allows state education officials to establish standards around financial literacy, which schools could incorporate into their existing curricula in subjects such as math, business, and social sciences.

The law says the standards "shall promote an understanding of personal finances," covering topics such as loans, interest, online commerce, renting or buying a home, planning for higher education and for retirement, balancing a checkbook, state and federal taxes, charitable giving, and "the role of banking and financial services."

Florida high school students could soon be required to take a financial literacy class (WFTS Tampa Bay)

A proposed bill would require Florida high school students to take a personal financial literacy course before graduating. "In light of economic challenges nationwide, sound financial management skills are vitally important to all Floridians, particularly high school students," Florida Senate Bill 114 reads in part. If passed the bill, also called the Dorothy L. 4 Hukill Financial Literacy Act, would make Florida the sixth state to require a stand-alone financial class.

About the Author

Danielle Bautista

Danielle is a native of Southern California and a recent graduate from the University of Maine, where she braved the frigid winters—a feat in and of itself—and earned her Bachelor's degree in International Affairs. She has a passion for working with non-profit organizations and serving populations in underprivileged communities. When Danielle isn't writing NGPF blog posts, spearheading various outreach projects, or managing contests and flash surveys, you can find her doing some sort of outdoor activity, learning a new hobby, or cracking what she thinks are witty puns!