H&R Block is taking a novel approach to teaching high school students about personal finance- using real-world experiences, not textbooks.
H&R Block created the Dollars and Sense initiative to increase teen financial literacy, and has now developed a curriculum that addresses personal finance. The program, called the H&R Block Budget Challenge, simulates an adult’s financial life- paying bills, investing in retirement, managing loans and more. To receive a high score, students must maximize their savings and correctly answer financial quizzes, while avoiding fees and other budgetary pitfalls.
This online simulation tool is teacher-tested and a learn-by-doing educational approach that replicates real-world budgeting and personal finance decision-making. The program is free to high school teachers and home-school educators, and participating teachers will receive lesson plans, educational videos and additional resources that compliment the challenge. For those students who best display their personal finance skills, H&R block will reward $3 million in grants, scholarships and cash prizes.
Six L.A. school districts, including Burbank, El Monte, Fontana, Fullerton, Los Angeles and Rowland Heights, and more than 300 students have embraced the initiative within it’s first week of registration.
They are up for the H&R Block Budget Challenge. Are you?
For complete details and to register for the H&R Block Budget Challenge, visit hrbds.org.