May 11, 2023

Good news in the news! MCEE’s work and leadership has recently been featured in BOTH the Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Banner! 

The Baltimore Banner published a Commentary by MCEE Executive Director Julie Weaver with a perspective we all share: Maryland’s students need high-quality personal finance and economics education in order to successfully manage their financial lives, reach their goals, and thrive.

As Julie says in the Commentary, “Our schools teach algebra and chemistry, poetry and world history. Isn’t teaching our children about personal finance -- developing skills they’ll use every day of their lives -- just as important?” 

Find the full Community Voices Commentary here

Also, the Baltimore Sun highlighted two teachers who recently won the Maryland Financial Education and Capability Awards for their work delivering personal finance education. Congratulations to Karen Yancey and Michelle Coates for being featured, and to all winners of the Financial Education and Capability Awards!

Read the Sun story here.

We hope you’ll share these articles with anyone you know who may be interested in the future of Maryland’s children. To learn more about how MCEE helps teachers deliver impactful personal finance and economics education in classes of all subjects, visit https://www.econed.org/.

(Speaking of MCEE helping teachers! Registration is open for MCEE’s 2023 Financial & Economic   Education Summit, featuring 20+ FREE sessions with new ideas for increasing engagement in classrooms by delivering personal finance-focused content that your students not only need, but are enthusiastic about learning and applying to their lives. The Summit will be June 28 at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve. Information and registration: https://www.econed.org/Summit)

Our work on behalf of students happens because of the generous support of our partners.. These partnerships yield the greatest impact when our supporters share our passion for personal finance and for learning. The APG Federal Credit Union does that - and more.

APGFCU is committed to the financial well-being of its members and communities, and, like us, that means more than services. It means knowledge and learning with financial counseling, seminars and digital tools to help members achieve their goals. APGFCU offers a robust financial wellness platform with articles, financial calculators, artificial intelligence coaches and financial education courses for all age groups, including a fun, interactive learning experience for children as young as four.

The credit union’s focus on knowledge sharing is illustrated in its support of MCEE. As Liz Monti, APGFCU’s Financial Education Director, puts it, “APGFCU is proud to partner with MCEE; working together to equip our students with the economic and financial literacy knowledge needed will help better position them to make sound financial decisions, thus improving their economic and social condition and building a strong community.”

One aspect of APGFCU’s wide-ranging partnership with MCEE is support of the The Stock Market Game™. “We know the long-term impact financial education can have, not only on the student but also on the family,” explained Monti. “This program provides teachers with an interactive and engaging resource to deliver financial education in the classroom at no cost to them. One of our proudest moments was receiving an email from a parent whose child and whole family had been impacted by their son’s participation in The Stock Market Game.”

Part of that email reads: “My son, who is currently in 7th grade at HCPS, was introduced to the stock market via the Stock Market Game™ when he was in 5th grade. By participating in this exciting, months-long activity…he and his classmates learned the importance of doing research, taking calculated risks and reaping the rewards of a well-placed investment. Soon thereafter, he asked if he could use his own money to invest in real stocks. Since then, he has added to his investment and hopes to make his money grow to help pay for college. His success has also inspired us to look into the stock market for our own investments. I am happy to report that after careful research and prayerfully choosing a handful of stocks, we have grown our investment by over 70% in just a little over a year. Thank you APCFCU!”

Thank you APGFCU, indeed! Learn more about APGFCU’s work and resources, here. 

The financial support of the Maryland Council on Economic Education’s partners makes our work possible as we reach thousands of students and educators a year with engaging learning experiences that reinforce and introduce personal finance and economics concepts. As a longtime partner, Wells Fargo is leading the way.

Wells Fargo’s generous support stems from its commitment to serving communities. Like MCEE, Wells Fargo prioritizes high-quality initiatives that open pathways to economic advancement. And like MCEE, Wells Fargo ensures its work helps under served communities, advances racial equity, and introduces crucial personal finance concepts that will help all students and educators, no matter their background.

“Being a local partner of MCEE is impactful as we support building a stronger focus around financial health for our communities,” said Traci Horne, Wells Fargo Vice President and Sr. Social Impact & Sustainability Specialist. “Together, we can provide resources for our teachers, creating a stronger foundation of financial knowledge and empowerment for our youth where it matters the most, in the classroom.”

OAKLAND — Southern Garrett High School students enrolled in Athena Wilson’s classes recently participated in the Stock Market Game and proved once again that Southern Garrett High School students are undeniably a state leader in investing. Click here for the complete article.

A team of 5th graders from Joppatowne Elementary placed first in the fall Stock Market Game. Click here for the article.

Students learn the basics of investing through simulated, real-world investment experiences.  Click here for the article.

A team of students from a Howard County elementary school emerged victorious in the Maryland central region's Fall Stock Market Game.  Click here to read the article.

When it comes to protecting and preparing investors, consumers and savers, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation are among the leaders[PR1]. FINRA safeguards market integrity, implements investor protections, and helps ensure that communities have the awareness they need to make sound financial decisions. This commitment extends to the FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s generous partnership with MCEE - and it’s having a direct and significant impact on students. 

Beginning in 2021, the FINRA Foundation has supported MCEE in expanding personal finance and economic education across Maryland. Every school year since, it has provided funding to allow groups of underserved, Title 1 schools to participate in theStock Market Game, the MCEE-managed student competition delivering simulated stock market investing experience while building financial and academic skills.

“The FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s mission is to support innovative resources and educational projects that give underserved Americans the knowledge, skills and tools they need to make sound financial decisions,” explained Gerri Walsh, President of the FINRA Foundation, Senior Vice President of Investor Education. “Coupled with the proven success of the Stock Market Game in improving student performance and MCEE’s shared dedication and impressive work towards this mission, our partnership was a natural fit.”

This commitment to breaking down barriers to economic understanding has driven MCEE’s work and has helped the Maryland Stock Market Game grow into the impactful program it is today. More than 320 Maryland schools and 17,000 students participate a year.

The FINRA Foundation also partners with MCEE to bring FINRA experts into classrooms to share insights with students on topics like capital markets, regulatory environments, and differing types of investments. In addition to its support of MCEE, FINRA’s Office of Investor Education provides useful resources that guide investors through the investing process toward the best decisions.Find them here. 

As Walsh put it, “having financial understanding promotes the ability to make sound financial decisions throughout life. These decisions are all around us, and having the information needed to make them in ways that align with our goals could not be more important. Through this work with MCEE, we’re seeking to reduce the wealth disparities and economic barriers that stem from lack of awareness.”

MCEE couldn’t be more appreciative of the FINRA Foundation’s thoughtful, impactful partnership and support. To learn more about the FINRA Foundation, clickhere.

Last month, Southern Maryland News published MCEE Executive Director Julie Weaver's letter to the editor about how Southern Maryland sets an example in personal finance and economics education for the rest of the state. Kudos to Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's Counties for ensuring students access the economics education they need to lead successful, financially secure lives. Read the letter here.