By Dario Stipisic, W!se

Working in Support of Education (W!se) is a leading national educational nonprofit with a mission to improve economic mobility through programs that develop financial literacy and readiness for college and careers. Our initiatives are built on 5 pillars – relevancy, real-world experiences, partnerships, volunteerism, and evaluation. Based in New York City, our programs transform the lives of Americans across the United States. We are spearheading a national effort to empower people, especially the underserved, to lead lives of financial well-being, succeed in college and excel in an increasingly competitive global workplace.

W!se is a national Jump$tart partner, and manages the New York Financial Literacy Coalition, the New York State affiliate for the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.

At the heart of our offerings is a family of financial literacy initiatives, comprising Financial Literacy Certification for high school students, 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.

• Financial Literacy Certification: W!se’s Financial Literacy Certification program helps high school students become financially literate before entering college or the workforce. Schools participating in the program teach personal finance during school hours and then administer our national standardized Financial Literacy Certification Test. To support instruction, we provide professional development and resources. Students passing the Certification Test become Certified Financially Literate (CFL™). This certification, approved by state departments of education, is evidence that students have acquired the knowledge and skills for future financial success. W!se offers teachers and schools recognition based on students’ performance on the Test. Our highest accolade, the annual ranking of the “Wise 100 Best High Schools Teaching Personal Finance” is the first ranking of its kind in the country.

• Certification in Personal Finance for educators: This Certification is for secondary school teachers of personal finance. Teachers who pass the Test earn a Certification in Personal Finance (CPF) and receive a CPF certificate — a national credential demonstrating proficiency to teach personal finance.

• MoneyW!SE for survivors of domestic violence: MoneyW!SE provides low income women and domestic violence survivors an opportunity to become financially literate through a course on personal finance. The Course culminates in the MoneyW!SE Financial Literacy Certification Test. Participants who pass become Certified Financially Literate, a credential that helps them at their jobs and search for work.

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• We have developed an enhanced virtual proctoring feature in case students may need to take our Test from home. This innovative technology allows schools to administer our Certification Test seamlessly within our testing platform without the need for an external video classroom provider.

• We have launched an exciting new financial literacy mobile app and updated web-based practice test database. These resources enable students to take practice tests on the newly enhanced website or conveniently on their phones via the app.

• The 2022 “100 Best W!se High Schools Teaching Personal Finance” ranking was announced at a virtual ceremony sponsored by Voya Financial®. The first-place distinction was given to Academies of West Memphis in West Memphis, Arkansas.