NCEE News

NCEE Excellence in Economic Education Grant

Several Grants Awarded to ICEE Centers throughout Illinois

Marking the onset of fiscal year 2004, NCEE was awarded the Excellence in Economic Education Grant by the US Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement. Congress authorized the Excellence in Economic Education (EEE) Act as a part of the landmark No Child Left Behind legislation, and appropriated $1.5 million for EEE in Fiscal Year 2004.

As a first step, NCEE issued Requests for Proposals to fund a variety of activities, including:

• teacher training
• providing and distributing resources to school districts
• conducting economic and financial literacy education research
• conducting evaluations of the impact of such education on students
• encouraging replication of best practices in the field of economic and financial literacy education

Eligible applicants included any state education agency, local education agency or state or local economic, personal finance, or entrepreneurial education organization.

A total of four grants awarded over $35,000.00 to Illinois Centers/Offices of Economic Education for programs to be implemented by June 30, 2005.

1 & 2) The Governor's State University Office was awarded two grants funding the distribution of materials in the Ford Heights Area and the "Economic Achievers" student summer program.
3) The University of Illinois at Chicago Center was awarded a grant to support the "Economics for Life" workshop series for teachers that offers graduate credit options.
4) The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Center was awarded funding for a teacher training session that will feature the new Welcome to the Real World simulation program.

Additional information about the Excellence in Economic Education will be posted on the NCEE website and updated regularly.