The Past, Present, and Future of IGEFHS

Illinois Global Economics and Finance High School (IGEFHS) Program, developed during the 2001-2002 academic year, was originally funded by grants from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The IGEFHS Program created twenty schools around the state with a commitment to integrating economics and personal finance across the curriculum and to developing a career track in economics and finance for students.

Currently and throughout this academic year, a limited number of mini-grants were made available for schools that have been part of the Illinois Global Economics & Finance (IGEF) program. These grants may be used to further enhance the economics and finance curriculum in the school and/or to expand implementation of the International Economic Summit curriculum and simulation in the school. The guidelines and application for these grants are available by contacting ICEE.

The IGEFHS Program was key to the development of two additional programs: The International Economic Summit and the International Classroom Partnership program.

The International Economic Summit has become an integral part of the programs at many IGEFHS schools. The International Classroom Partnership Program (initially the Romanian Classroom Partnership Program) has continued with several teacher-partnerships in 2005-2006, and has also led to one student exchange, with others pending (funded separately from core program).

It is ICEE’s intent to continue to support and enhance these programs in future years, with continued support for overall curriculum enhancement and professional development programs.