• Banking on the Future: Winooski Teacher Primes Students for Financial Success (KidsVT)

When it comes to teaching kids personal finance, Vermont gets a D. The 2017 National Report Card on State Efforts to Improve Financial Literacy in High Schools — put out by Champlain College's Center for Financial Literacy — dings the state for setting "modest levels" of personal finance education in state academic standards, providing no specifics on instruction and no oversight to the school boards, which implement them. Despite the bad grade for the state as a whole, exemplary personal finance programs exist in some schools. Winooski High School is home to one, the creation of business teacher [and NGPF Fellow] Courtney Poquette.

• Monticello High School students give back for tax time (Spectrum News)

Students at Monticello are getting important lessons in financial literacy while helping the community this tax season through a volunteer program.  The Academy of Finance is a four-year program at Monticello High School teaching topics from accounting to financial decision making. Students in the final year learn to prepare taxes and become certified as tax preparers through the nationwide volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) program.

• Naugatuck, Woodland DECA well-represented at state conference (Citizen's News)

Students from the DECA chapters at Woodland Regional High School and Naugatuck High School will compete on the national stage in April. DECA is an organization designed to prepare students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Students from around the state competed at DECA’s State Career Development Conference at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville on March 6.

• What a rock band, magician can teach your kids about money (Detroit Free Press)

Michigan families have their share of financial frustrations but the state isn't doing all that bad when it comes to financial literacy. Michigan ranks No. 11 in the nation — behind Illinois but ahead of Ohio, according a WalletHub analysis of consumer habits and financial education. One of our strong points? We ranked No. 3 in "most sustainable spending habits" — reflecting solid efforts by many in Michigan to save for emergencies, set aside money for their children's college education and avoid spending more than they earn, according to WalletHub.

About the Author

Laura Matchett

After graduating with an education degree and spending 7 years in an elementary classroom, Laura made the switch to the non-profit world and loves interacting with students, educators and business professionals across the country. She is passionate about all students having access to high quality education and views personal finance education as one way to ‘level the playing field’. When Laura is not locating or creating high quality educational resources, you can find her mountain biking or searching for the best ramen in town!

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