We’re preparing kids for the future. How? By helping teens learn money management and earn scholarships while having some fun along the way. And by giving teachers the tools they need to engage students in personal finance. Our program aligns with the National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education, which is published by the Jump$tart Coalition and helps teens learn before they earn in a game-like environment.
WHAT WE OFFER
A free interactive personal finance game that simulates real-life money management.
The H&R Block Budget Challenge helps teens get Real-World Ready from the safety of the classroom. In this learn by doing simulation, students pay bills, manage expenses, save money, invest in retirement and pay taxes while competing for $200,000 in college scholarships. Awards include:
- 10 opportunities for student scholarships of $20K (5 scholarships remain for Spring semester)
- Student incentives during gameplay
Think of Budget Challenge as the Road Test for Personal Finance®. Students are in the driver’s seat as they immerse into the financial life of a recent college graduate who has been working for about six months. Each student gets a regular paycheck, a checking account, a 401(k) savings account and bills to pay throughout the simulation. Students increase their score by maximizing 401(k) savings, paying bills on time, avoiding penalties and fees like late fees, overdraft fees and finance charges and responding correctly to quiz questions.
For more information about Budget Challenge, visit the Learn More page.
WHAT WE NEED
We need teachers to bring H&R Block Budget Challenge to their students by registering at www.hrbds.org, logging in and creating a class for the spring simulations.
Returning teachers use their existing teacher account from the 2015-2016 school year to login at www.hrblock.budgetchallenge.com.
Spots are limited, so REGISTER and CREATE A CLASS today to reserve your space for your students to experience this free one-of-a-kind program!
Need help getting started? Watch the “What is Budget Challenge?” webinar today!
In this webinar, you will experience the student registration process and daily activities of a student participating in the game through a virtual tour of the simulation presented by an experienced Budget Challenge team member who has facilitated this game in her classroom. You will be viewing teacher resources, scoring, grading, and benefit from suggestions on how to implement Budget Challenge in your classroom.
WHAT’S NEW
Participating teachers are surveyed at the end of each simulation and their feedback is used to continuously provide improvements to the program.
NEW this year:
- Read the Starting Line to answer the question, “How do I get started?”
- Engage your students with newly designed quiz questions and scenario.
- Check for quick links to resources on the smarter Teacher Home.
- View student performance and engagement in real-time on the Dashboard, reducing the number of teacher emails.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Budget Challenge Help Desk
support@budgetchallenge.freshdesk.com
