The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has launched a new resource for educators and the public entitled “Economics In Person.”

The series is designed to bring the expertise of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s economists to the Web through a series of short presentations highlighting interesting areas of research in economics and the U.S. economy.

The SF Fed will be releasing two additional segments over the next couple of weeks. View Mary Daly, Associate Director of Research and Group Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, discussing the impact of the Great Recession on U.S. employment.

William Coffin, CCEE Chairman

On behalf of the tens of thousands of California students who benefited from our teacher training programs and curriculum offerings in 2011, I would like to thank you for your support and your contributions.

CCEE agrees wholeheartedly with Tom Hoenig that
– economic and financial literacy is as critical a life skill as reading and writing.

Our mission is to help young people develop skills and knowledge they can use all their lives as workers, parents, consumers, investors and citizens

The most efficient and cost-effective way to reach large numbers of students is by improving the skill sets of teachers and by providing classroom-ready economics and financial literacy curriculum resources for the immediate use.

I am very proud that during 2011:  

• We provided 5,000 hours of teacher training to 1,500 teachers.
• These teachers collectively impact over 100,000 California students each year.

Our job is not complete

As we gradually emerge from the depths of the worst recession since the Great Depression, it is more important than ever for our students, parents and teachers to have a solid foundation in good decision making and a workable understanding of the financial “rules of the game” to function in this complex global economy.

This year we will set about on our most ambitious agenda of growth and change in CCEE’s history, through:  

• Teacher training 
• Program portfolio expansion
• Integrated assessment and use of technology

With your help, 2012 will be a banner year for the teachers and students of California as they build, learn and teach about the economy and financial decision making.

My thanks and appreciation for all that you have contributed during the last year to advance the mission of CCEE.  

Together, what we are doing is worth doing, and is making a difference.

Sincerely,
William Coffin
CCEE Chairman of the Board

Get everyone involved and take the challenge. It only takes a few minutes!

Today’s student faces a fast-paced, dynamic economy and needs a solid financial education to succeed.

National Financial Capability Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Education, runs March 12 through April 13, 2012.

The Challenge is a free, online series of financial questions for high school students to test their knowledge of earning, spending, saving, borrowing, risk protection, and more.

You can sign up now to join the growing number of educators engaging their students in this challenge. Registration is easy and free at challenge.treas.gov. As educators, it is critically important to use this opportunity to help prepare our students for financial independence!

Get started now:

• Download PDF for detailed information, or
• Register today at challenge.treas.gov

The winning Downey High School team, MoneyWiseTeen Contest

California Council on Economic Education’s MoneyWiseTeen Program and Contest offer students 10 online lessons to use throughout the year. At the end of the school year, students are prepared to compete in the MoneyWiseTeen Contest.

Those pennies add up quickly when you start saving!

Sign up your youth group, classroom or child to participate in America Saves Week.

Their site is loaded with savings tips, quiz, checklist and facts about saving money.

About America Saves

America Saves is a national campaign involving more than 1,000 non-profit, government, and corporate groups that encourages individuals and families to save money and build personal wealth. Overall management for the campaign is provided by the non-profit Consumer Federation of America (CFA). CFA is comprised of over 270 consumer education, advocacy, and cooperative organizations dedicated to advancing the consumer interest.

MoneyWiseTeen: no cost, online program teaches teens about finances

Online economic literacy program, free to students and teachers

Visit CCEE’s financial literacy program for teens, MoneyWiseTeen and access their 10-lesson, online program to teach teens how to handle their finances and make sound life decisions.

In the next several months, the high school students will travel to dozens of elementary schools to teach over 1,000 students. They learned how to teach a one-hour lesson on human capital for K–2 grades using story books.

Young teachers bring enthusiasm to the classroom

Loyola HS students are going into their third year of teaching human capital

The Loyola students have already completed a semester of AP microeconomics, with a semester of macroeconomics coming up next. They work closely with their econ teachers to ensure they are prepared and ready, in addition to Dr. Charkins’ training session. These student teachers know their econ!

“With all of their academic economic know-how, what we are really asking these student teachers to do is show the younger students they they are their most valuable resource,” said Jim.

He continued, “Clearly these kids are not professional teachers, but the presence and enthusiasm they bring to the classroom goes a long way. The younger students love learning from the ‘big kids.’”

New tools for you to use with your classroom or young children at home

Learn about the K–2 lesson on human capital, Choices and Changes.

Download the complimentary “Hunka Hunka Human Capital” Cheer for Kindergarteners.

Good.com has created a 30-day Challenge for January to get the new year started right!

it's good to be financially fit!

Their objective is to get your entire community fiscally fit. To that end, they are offering a $500 prize to the person who submits the best idea to get their finances in shape.

Register for their daily email challenges to learn about new resources and things to do to become financially fit.

When you have your financial house in order, don’t forget to teach your kids how to be responsible earners and spenders.

CCEE offers lessons and resources at no cost to you. Whether you are a teacher or parent, you are free to download one of the many K–12 economic lessons to teach financial literacy.

Lessons for grades:

• K–12
• 5–7
• 8–12

Join CCEE for newsletters and information about upcoming workshops and professional development for teachers.

2012 Economic & Investments Forecast Dinner

Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Omni Hotel Los Angeles
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Visit www.cfala.org to register.

Moderator
Jeffrey C. Cleveland
Payden & Rygel
Senior Economist

Panelists
Laurie S. Goodman
Amherst Securities Group, LP
Senior Managing Director

Paul J. Hechmer
del Rey Global Investors, LLC
Chief Investment Officer

David Rosenberg
Gluskin Sheff
Chief Economist & Strategist

Teachers gather at a recent CCEE/CASET Conference providing professional development for teachers

“[Through CCEE], I have had the opportunity to come into contact with some truly wonderful materials, games, and activities to share with my econ students this year. They love that ‘interactive stuff’ and it is due to your efforts that I can bring it to them. I’m a better, and certainly more entertaining, teacher because of you.
 
Most of the professional development through my school, and through my district, is painfully not memorable or useful. The materials your conferences have provided are ‘miraculous’ in their usefulness and ‘interesting-ness.’ Who would have thought that ‘professional development’ could actually be useful!”
 
Thanks to you too! It’s teachers like you and feedback like this that make CCEE’s efforts worthwhile.

We look forward to a great year ahead, full of professional development for teachers so you can be the best teacher you can be.

Happy New Year!

Judith Perez, AALA President, lends her expertise and insights to help CCEE create programs and messages for teachers and students that matter today.

Judith Perez, President AALA

We all know the current economic climate is challenging, but how often do we stop and think about how high school students feel about the economy? Not often enough and these students represent the next wave of workers who will need to find jobs and contribute in the global economy.

Judith recently sat down with CCEE Chairman Bill Coffin to share her insights. Highlights of their conversation include:

• Young people see the economic downturn as a jobs crisis, more than a housing, stock market or foreign policy issue.
• They are concerned about their role in society and ease of finding a career.
• The stay-in-school message has never been more important.

Just when you think your teenager isn’t paying attention to the news, Judith is here to tell you they are.

She says, “Students care a great deal about the economy and the best way to understand it is to figure out where they fit. This comes down jobs and types of roles they see available to them. It’s critical that organizations like CCEE encourage students to graduate from high school and pursue higher education to attain the best-paying job possible.”

As Judith points out, Economic Education Equals Jobs!

Learn more about CCEE’s workshops and programs at no cost to teachers.