ARKANSAS COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION

ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES OFFERED BY ECONOMICS ARKANSAS INCLUDE CEE/NAEE DUES, PUBLIC RELATIONS, TEACHER AWARDS PROGRAM, RESOURCE EXTENDER SUPPORT, STUDENT AND FAMILY PROGRAMS, NEW AND OTHER PROGRAM ENTERPRISES.CEE/NAEE DUES ALLOW DISCOUNTS ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION MATERIALS, PRIORITY ACCESS TO REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES, AWARD OPPORTUNITIES AND OCCASIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES.ECONOMICS ARKANSAS UTILIZES PART OF ITS PUBLIC RELATIONS BUDGET TO SUPPORT TEACHER AND STUDENT PRESENTATIONS. ALSO INCLUDED ARE MEMBERSHIPS TO PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS ARKANSAS ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATORS AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE WITHIN THE STATE. THEY SERVE AS RESOURCES FOR PROMOTION OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO ARKANSAS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.TEACHERS MAY SUBMIT CLASSROOM PROJECTS VIA WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY WIN A STATE AWARD, INCLUDING A CASH AWARD AND THE COVETED "BESSIE" STATUE.WHILE ECONOMICS ARKANSAS OPERATES WITH A SMALL STAFF, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE MULTIPLE "RESOURCE EXTENDERS" OF MASTER ECONOMIC TEACHERS (METS) AND CENTERS FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION. METS ARE CLASSROOM EDUCATORS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN OUR WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED PROFICIENCY AND EASE WITH INCORPORATING ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION CONCEPTS INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS IN CREATIVE WAYS. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 23 ACTIVE METS, PLUS SIX RETIRED EDUCATORS DUBBED "MET EMERITUS" WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS OF ECONOMICS ARKANSAS. ALSO THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN AN "ECONOMIC ARKANSAS AMBASSADORS" PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE WHO STRIVE TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC EDUCATION AND PERSONAL FINANCE PROGRAMS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 52 AMBASSADORS ASSISTING EA TO EDUCATE AND RAISE AWARENESS OF SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, ARKANSAS HAS SIX CENTERS FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION BASED IN UNIVERSITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, LED BY CENTER DIRECTORS WHO HAVE ECONOMIC TRAINING, WHO PROVIDE TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE TO TEACHERS IN THEIR GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.ECONOMICS ARKANSAS IS KEENLY AWARE OF CHANGES IN THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND STRIVES TO CONSTANTLY EVOLVE TO MEET THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF TEACHERS AS WELL AS DEVELOP INNOVATIVE OFFERINGS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN THE "REAL LIFE" EDUCATION ECONOMIC EDUCATION OFFERS. WE INVEST IN NEW PROGRAM IDEAS TO TEST THEIR VIABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS. SOMETIMES THESE OFFERINGS BECOME PART OF ECONOMICS ARKANSAS' CORE PROGRAMS AND SOMETIMES THEY MAY ONLY HAVE A SEASON OF ONE OR TWO YEARS. SOMETIMES WE ASSIST WITH CREATING INITIATIVES FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO EXECUTE. WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES, OUR VISION REMAINS FOR ARKANSAS STUDENTS TO MASTER AN UNDERSTANDING ECONOMICS AND PERSONAL FINANCE AND APPLY THAT KNOWLEDGE FOR SUCCESS IN THE FREE-ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.ECONOMICS ARKANSAS OFFERS VARIOUS ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. COMPETITIONS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12 SUCH AS ECONOMICS CHALLENGE, PERSONAL FINANCE CHALLENGE, PITCH IT! AND $10 CHALLENGE ARE OFFERED TO NOT ONLY TEST ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE BUT ALSO TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS ENCOURAGING BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO GAPS IN SERVICES AND PRODUCTS. FOR LOWER GRADES, ECON GAMES AND PICTURING ECON ART COMPETITIONS ARE OFFERED. ECON GAMES TARGETS GRADES 4-5. STUDENT TEAMS APPLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF ECONOMICS AND PERSONAL FINANCE BY CREATING AND PARTICIPATING IN AN ASSEMBLY LINE, TAKING A CRITICAL THINKING TEST, AND DEVELOPING AND PRESENTING AN IDEA THAT SOLVES A REAL-WORLD PROBLEM. STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 PARTICIPATE IN AN ART COMPETITION WHERE THEY ARE CHALLENGED TO PICTURE ECONOMICS BY ILLUSTRATING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF ITS CONCEPTS. THESE COMPETITIONS BRING TO "REAL LIFE" THE VAST APPLICATIONS OF CLASSROOM LEARNING. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES CONSISTS OF FAMILY FINANCIAL LITERACY NIGHTS, WHERE SCHOOLS COMMIT TO HOST EVENTS AND EA PROVIDES KITS FILLED WITH ACTIVITIES, SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES THAT FAMILIES CAN PARTICIPATE IN AND LEARN TOGETHER.