Gov. Walker: $250,000 in financial literacy grants awarded

Contacts: Cullen Werwie, 608-267-7303

George Althoff, DFI Communications Director, (608) 261-4504

David Mancl, Director, Office of Financial Literacy (608) 261-9540

Madison—Governor Scott Walker announced today $250,000 in grants awarded to enhance the level of personal finance education in 24 Wisconsin school districts. The recipients of the funding were selected by the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy out of a field of more than 50 applicants from across the state.

“Financial literacy gives our students the tools they need to become prosperous and productive citizens,” Governor Walker said. “This initiative will help move our K-12 educational system forward, and ultimately benefit the next generation.”

The program, open to Wisconsin’s K-12 public and private schools, was a collaborative effort that included the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy, the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Wisconsin Women’s Council. Funding for the program came from settlement funds received by DFI over the last couple of years.

“DFI is pleased to provide funding to support this important initiative,” DFI Secretary Peter Bildsten said. “This investment will enable more of our schools to integrate personal finance into their curriculums. The students who benefit from these programs will be better prepared to handle the financial decisions they soon will be making as adults.”

The intent of the program is to support the efforts of individual teachers and school districts to begin new and sustainable financial literacy programs and events. Wisconsin is the first state in the nation to develop content and performance standards that define what students should know about financial literacy.

“Preparing students to understand and participate in their own financial well-being through education in personal financial literacy is essential if we want every child to graduate with the knowledge and skills needed for success in college and career,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers. “These grants will help schools provide important financial literacy lessons to students.”

The programs that will receive the grants and the amounts they will receive are:

* Ashland School District, $8,800.

* Business and Economics Academy of Milwaukee Inc., $10,000.

* CESA 11 (Barron, Luck, Shell Lake and Unity school districts), $30,000.

* CESA 11 (Clear Lake, Durand, Elmwood, Glenwood City and St. Croix Central school districts), $30,000.

* CESA 11 (Boyceville and Prairie Farm school districts), $17,640.

* DeForest Area School District, $20,833.

* Fennimore High School, $1,576.

* Howard-Suamico School District, $12,474.

* Marshfield School District, $7,500.

* Milwaukee Public Schools, $30,000.

* Oshkosh Area School District, $6,000.

* Rib Lake School District, $13,000.

* Richfield Joint School District #1, $9,561.

* St. Croix Falls School District, $9,186.

* Stone Bank School District, $2,418.

* Superior School District, $10,600.

* West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, $30,000.

TOTAL AWARDED: $249,588.

Details about the recipients’ programs can be found at http://www.wdfi.org/ymm/govcouncilfinlit.