The newly formed President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy has recommended that the U.S. Department of the Treasury challenge U.S. students to learn more about personal finance. Beginning April 28, 2008, high school teachers can register their classes to participate in the 2008 National Financial Literacy Challenge. The Challenge is a voluntary, 35-question test that students can take to earn recognition of their financial knowledge. Scholarships and trips to Washington D.C. will be awarded. It will be offered online until May 16, 2008 and there is no fee to participate. For more information go to: http://flc.treas.gov/teacher.aspx

Despite documented low levels of financial literacy in U.S., only 18 states include financial education within required K-12 classes. As part of a concerted initiative to promote the inclusion of financial education in state standards and required courses, the Jump$tart Coalition® for Personal Financial Literacy and Citi’s Office of Financial Education have created an on-line map that serves as a state-by-state report card on financial education requirements. The map is located on Jump$tart’s web site: http://www.jumpstart.org/state_legislation/index.cfm

January 22,2008 - Washington, DC, President George W. Bush today signed an executive order that established the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy within the U.S. Department of Treasury. Laura Levine, executive director of the Jump$tart Coalition® for Personal Financial Literacy, has been appointed to the Council and was at the White House for the announcement today. Cabinet Secretaries Henry M. Paulson, Jr. (Treasury), Alphonso Jackson (Housing and Urban Development), and Anna Cabral (Treasurer of the U.S.) also participated in making the announcement.

Several Jump$tart Coalition national board members and partners were also appointed to the council, including: Ted Beck, president and CEO, National Endowment for Financial Education; Robert Duvall, president and CEO, National Council on Economic Education; Charles Schwab (appointed chairman of the council), Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.; John Bryant (appointed vice chairman of the council), chairman and founder, Operation HOPE, Inc.; David Mancl, Wisconsin State Jump$tart Coalition, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions; and Ted Daniels, Society for Financial Education and Personal Development. More…

This latest quarterly newsletter is designed to keep educators informed about personal finance education tools and concepts, sample lesson plans, upcoming events and the activities of the Coalition and member organizations. More …

Congratulations to:

Michelle Lawrence of American First Credit Union for her extensive classroom teaching to over two thousand Southern California children, the creation of teen workshops, panels and a Bank at School program that has over 250 students enrolled. Michelle has previously been recognized with numerous awards, including the Richard Myles Johnson Beacon award.

Sam X. Renick of It’s a Habit! for creation of the Sammy the Rabbit savings program for children, his extensive teaching of good personal finance habits to kids across the country and his enthusiastic promotion of financial literacy for young children and families. Sam, who has won numerous awards, is an Advisory Board member of California Jump$tart.

Clar Rosso, Director of Communications of the California Society of CPAs for her leadership in building the California CPAs’ personal financial literacy efforts, including the “Dollars & Sense” education program, and for spearheading the very successful Summit on Personal Financial Literacy held in Sacramento in April 2006 (and scheduled for April 2008).

Sally Taylor of On My Own for her authorship of ‘Money Talks’ on financial literacy for teens, ‘Silly Goose Saves her Money’ for children and her extensive teaching on money management to thousands of high school seniors in Southern California in partnership with McDonalds, ING and others.

The purpose of this program is to provide urban, disadvantaged youth with the opportunity to observe, learn and participate in the world of the financial markets. More…

Most people would describe the classic novel “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” as a coming-of-age story. I think of it as a vivid personal finance book. By New York Times columnist SHIRA BOSS. More …

She wrote the book on saving for school, but touring campuses with her daughter was an eye-opener. More …

Pull up a chair and make some popcorn. Movies, it turns out, can deliver some sage financial advice. These aren’t dull documentaries. Some classic and not-so-classic but enjoyable films –By Kathy M. Kristof, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer  More …

General information for managing personal finances that does not recommend specific financial actions. Consumers can find extensive free resources to help them make sound financial decisions. The site is free from all advertising, sales and promotions. More …