Working in Support of Education (W!se), a New York City-based not-for-profit, provides educational support services nationwide, building financial literacy and readiness for college and careers. W!se serves urban secondary school students in low-to-moderate-income areas. Extensive partnerships with schools and the private sector and a reputation for sustainable programs with measurable results have made W!se a leader in education. Separately, W!se manages the New York Financial Literacy Coalition, the New York State affiliate for the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.
WHAT WE OFFER
At the heart of our offerings is a family of financial literacy initiatives, comprising the Financial Literacy Certification for high school students, the Certification in Personal Finance for educators, and MoneyW!SE for survivors of domestic violence. These programs differ in scope and target audience, but all share a common thread – the administration of our standardized assessment of personal finance knowledge and a certification for those who master the subject matter.
Our award-winning Financial Literacy Certification program helps teachers develop personal finance knowledge and enables their students to live a life of financial wellbeing.
Financial Literacy Certification for Students and Teachers
Through this program, we provide schools with instructional resources to teach a course on personal finance. After instruction, schools administer the W!se national standardized Financial Literacy Certification Test to assess students’ knowledge. Pretesting is also available. Tests are accessible online, through tablets and in paper form.
Students who pass the Certification Test earn a W!se Certification in Financial Literacy (CFL™). This certification, approved by state departments of education, is evidence of students acquiring the knowledge and skills to make smart decisions, empowering them for future financial success.
Now in 48 states, the program includes more than five and a half million hours of instruction in participating high schools annually. The average passing rate for the 2016-2017 school year was 74 percent for students at schools participating in the certification program. The program has been widely recognized for its success, including the U.S. Treasury Department’s John Sherman Award for Excellence in Financial Education.
Educators also have the opportunity to earn a certification by taking our Certification in Personal Finance (CPF).
WHAT WE NEED
We are looking to build awareness of our initiatives and expand the reach and distribution of our programs.
WHAT’S NEW
W!se Financial Literacy Slogan Contest: On Feb. 23, W!se launched its first Financial Literacy Slogan Contest. The competitive Contest is open to all high school students in the United States. Students are invited to create:
- a financial literacy slogan. The slogan should be original, short (six words or less) and creative, and inspire people of all ages to improve their knowledge of personal finance AND
- a compelling video explaining, in 60 seconds or less, why everyone why everyone needs to be or should be financially literate.
Teachers must submit the suggested slogans and videos on their students’ behalf. Submissions must be entered through Facebook.
The winning slogan will be chosen by judges. The student who creates the winning slogan will be awarded a $1,000 prize and the slogan will be featured on a t-shirt that W!se will offer through its website. The teacher representing the student with the winning slogan will be awarded a $500 prize.
The Contest runs until Friday, March 23, 2018, at 11:59 pm EST.
For rules and entry form please visit: https://www.wise-ny.org/financial-literacy-slogan-contest/
CONTACT INFORMATION
David Anderson
212-421-2700
danderson@wise-ny.org
Follow W!se on the web and receive updates on all things personal finance at:
http://www.wise-ny.org
http://www.facebook.com/wisenewyork
http://www.twitter.com/wisenewyork
