2010 “Mississippi Banner School in Financial Readiness” Award
Applications for the 2010 Mississippi Banner School in Financial Readiness award are now available. The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) have partnered to offer an award to schools for preparing students to be economically and financially ready to participate in the real world.
The “Mississippi Banner School in Financial Readiness” award is to recognize Mississippi schools that are effectively teaching students economic, financial and entrepreneurial skills and to reward students who are the most successful in demonstrating economic and financial literacy.
“In today’s complex financial global economy, children from an early age will need to develop financial and entrepreneurial skills to compete,” State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tom Burnham said. “This awards program will lay the foundation and heighten students’ interest in financial literacy.”
Entries will be judged in three categories: Primary (K-4); Intermediate/Middle (5-8) and Senior High (9-12). Award winners will receive recognition in a formal program and student scholarships. Selected schools will receive a banner to display at their school designating the school as a Mississippi Banner School in Financial Readiness. Finally, administrators will be given the opportunity to award $500 scholarships to at least three students who are achieving the highest success.
“Every child deserves to be financially literate before leaving high school and now, they can be as a result of K-12 teachers’ use of the MCEE programming in the classroom,” said MCEE President, Dr. Pamela Smith. “This awards program rewards schools who are successfully infusing the programming in the classroom, said Smith.
Since 2004, the MCEE together with MDE have provided the state’s only professional development program for K-12 teachers in economic, financial and entrepreneurial education, which are included in MDE’s curriculum framework. Basic financial readiness includes an understanding of the U.S. and State financial systems, competency in personal financial management and an appreciation of business management and operation.
To date, more than 5,000 K-12 teachers have received professional development including the Council for Economic Education curriculum that brings interactive standards-based economic, financial and entrepreneurial lessons to the classroom.
The deadline for eligible schools to apply is August 31, 2010. To download an application and contest rules, please visit www.mscee.org or www.mde.k12.ms.us. For additional information about the programming, please contact the MCEE at 601-974-1325 or email to mscee@millsaps.edu.
