Contact: George Althoff, Communications Director, 608-261-4504

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) today announced a $100,000 statewide grant program to encourage Wisconsin’s K-12 school districts to incorporate personal finance education into their curricula.

Funding for the program will be provided by DFI, which through its Office of Financial Literacy is charged with promoting financial literacy in Wisconsin. The Office of Financial Literacy works in concert with the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy to measurably improve the financial literacy of Wisconsin’s citizens. The Governor’s Council was created by Governor Walker’s Executive Order #24 in 2011. DFI is working closely with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on administration of the grant program.

“This program reinforces our continued commitment to improving educational opportunities for Wisconsin’s K-12 students,” Governor Scott Walker said. “Financial literacy is an important lifelong skill that empowers people to take control of their futures and achieve their financial dreams.”

Governor Walker last year signed into law 2017 Wisconsin Act 94, which requires all Wisconsin public school districts to incorporate personal finance into their curricula. According to data compiled by DFI, more than 70 percent of all Wisconsin high schools now require students to take a course in personal finance in order to graduate.

“This grant program is a great opportunity for those districts that do not have a personal finance requirement or program to obtain funding to implement one,” DFI Secretary Jay Risch said.

Application deadline is June 1, 2018. DPI, which is administering the program, will begin accepting online nominations on May 9, 2018 at https://dpi.wi.gov/finance/grants. Award recipients will be notified the week of July 23, 2018. The program is open to all public and parochial schools in Wisconsin. Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • The nature of the expected outcome from the project and the degree to which they are measurable.
  • The number of students impacted by the project.
  • Sustainability and the degree that the proposal includes parents, volunteers, and other members of the community.
  • Matching financial support from the school or other partners in the community.
  • Degree the project is realistic, innovative, experiential, educational and engaging.
  • Degree it enhances student experiences and curriculum delivery.
  • Level of innovation and creativity to enrich existing services and programs.
  • Cost effectiveness.
  • All proposals must indicate how they support approved academic curriculum and integrate Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards on Personal Financial Literacy.

Under similar programs conducted in 2012, 2014 and 2016, DFI awarded more than $750,000 to 64 Wisconsin school districts.

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