Economics Center
225 Calhoun Street, Suite 370
Cincinnati, OH 45219
Student Enterprise Program (StEP)
Grant Application:
The Student Enterprise Program (StEP) serves students in low-income neighborhoods in the region. This request is for expansion of the program to add 1,000 new students in 2021-2022 school year.
In StEP, students (age 5-14) earn school currency for good behavior, academic achievement, and good attendance. Quarterly, that income can be spent on basic school supplies, all the way to big ticket items (such as a basketball or an mp3 player). For the latter, a student has to save his/her school earnings all year long. Students can also choose to save their income (with interest), or donate it to a charity of their choosing. The concept of a school store provides a framework for the business volunteers to engage with students in real-world ideas and concepts: choices, responsibilities, and earnings, saving/spending/donating; it is a safe place to practice real-world skills. The program supports academic achievement through its activities that are connected to math, reading and writing, and social studies.
The overarching goals of this StEP expansion are: 1. To connect experiential classroom learning in financial education/economics to the “world of work” 2. To increase students’ awareness and knowledge of financial literacy, basic economics, and entrepreneurship 3. To increase student engagement inside the classroom and provide educators with quality curricular financial literacy resources as well as a positive behavior support system that truly works. These goals build resiliency and prepare them to succeed academically as well as provide a real-world context to their education.
Grant Evaluation Report:
During the 2022-2023 academic year, StEP provided 1,000 new students throughout the Greater Cincinnati area with an award-winning financial literacy program. Throughout the year, StEP staff began to see students learn first-hand the importance of saving their money. In addition, more and more students also began to donate a portion of their earnings to a charity of their school’s choice. As a result of the program, students began to see the impact of their choices – both positive and negative. These are lessons they will bring with them and build upon throughout their lives.
The program covered a wide range of topics, including budgeting, saving, investing, credit, and debt. Students also learned about the importance of making informed financial decisions and how to avoid common financial pitfalls.
The program was well-received by students, parents, and teachers. Students said they learned a lot about money management and felt more confident about their financial future. Parents said they were grateful for the program and felt it would help their children make better financial decisions. Teachers said the program was a valuable addition to the curriculum and helped students develop important life skills.
StEP is proud of the impact the program has had on students throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. The program is helping students develop the financial literacy skills they need to succeed in life.
Website:
http://www.economicscenter.org Amount: $25,000
Date: June 2022
