Budget Challenge is an award-winning and patented program for young people to EXPERIENCE how to manage money in a

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Lisa Tate
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1 Budget Challenge is an award-winning and patented program for young people to EXPERIENCE how to manage money in a real life setting. We use a Learning-By-Doing approach to put students in the driver s seat in our Road Test for Personal Finance. Our H&R Block sponsored contest simulations are 10 weeks in duration; non-sponsored simulations can be customized. Students receive paychecks and bills in real time and are challenged to pay their bills and save money for retirement in a 401k. Unlike other simulations, Budget Challenge is also a competition that scores and ranks students based on how well they save, answer weekly quizzes, and manage their financial responsibilities (pay bills). Students can compete with other students in their class and classes can compete with other classes based on class average to make the learning of life skills engaging and fun. Our sponsored version, H&R Block Budget Challenge, includes $3 million in scholarships and classroom grants as part of the competition. The simulation does not use real money, but is extremely realistic including features such as online bill pay, direct deposit, bill alerts, 401k paycheck deductions and more. Our program even includes a mobile application as an option for students who want to manage simulated financial decisions with their mobile phones. Budget Challenge also includes many of the complicated banking and credit card fees that plague young people in the real world, so students can learn the ropes and make their costly rookie mistakes in the safety of the classroom. The simulation includes supplemental resources for teachers and parents. Our teacher road map provides a week by week breakdown of simulation topics and engaging classroom activities, and our teachers play account allows teachers to play along on student accounts to get a first hand look at the student perspective. Our Parent Link allows parents to observe only their own child s simulation, including their child s class rank, simulation activities, quiz results, and a limited view of upcoming events. Budget Challenge aims to make students Real World Ready by focusing on Behaviors, Knowledge, and Skills. Our program aligns with CEE and Jump$tart national standards and goes well beyond teaching vocabulary and financial concepts by putting these topics into action with real consequences. This patented product delivers unparalleled results that really

Our H&R Block sponsored contest simulations are 10 weeks in duration; non-sponsored simulations can be customized.

2 Getting started Register at Hrbds.org () or Budgetchallenge.com (paid) A minimum of 7 days prior to simulation launch 3-4 minutes Activate account: Open the confirmation sent from support@budgetchallenge.com, click on Authorize and Login I registered as a teacher, what do I need to do before the simulation launches? Immediately upon registering, click Authorize and Login link to gain access to login, create classes, teacher resources 30 seconds Create a Class: (generates codes for student registration) Log into teacher account. Select Teacher Home> Create a Class, enter your class details. Teacher prep: Review the weekly resources in Teacher Home>Road Map At minimum, read Teacher and Student Buckle-Up weeks. Create Teacher Play account (=non-competing student acct) Get Teacher Play class code at Teacher Home. Logout first, then register using different username Student Registration: (Requires prior class creation see above) Find created Class codes at Teacher Home>Registration. Provide students the unique code for their class. Pro-tip: Insist students save username/password somewhere safe. (You will thank us later for this step.) Let the Budgeting begin: (This set-up time is very important.) Students complete vendor selections until all tabs are green. Students watch Cash Flow video and begin CFS. What do I do after the simulation launches? A minimum of 7 days prior to simulation launch; Recommended: Immediately! Roster estimates are OK. A minimum of 7 days prior to simulation launch; Recommended: 7-14 days prior to simulation launch day. Recommended: 3 to 14 days prior to simulation launch day. Recommended: 3 to 14 days prior to simulation launch day. Recommended: 3 to 14 days prior to simulation launch day 2 minutes 1 to 2 hours 5 minutes 5 minutes 40 min. - 4 days Use the Road Map to navigate the process and guide students: Weekly resources are provided for all ten weeks. Questions? support@freshdesk.budgetchallenge.com or use form at Teacher Home> Teacher Help-desk Each week, read Pit Stop (train the trainer doc for teachers). Teacher choice: Review the Test Drive (turn-key class activity) and decide if it is appropriate for your class/curriculum. Weekly: 20 minutes to 1 hour

com, click on Authorize and Login I registered as a teacher, what do I need to do before the simulation launches?

3 now to U.S. high schools $ 3 million in prizes WHAT AN AMAZING YEAR! Over 2,300 schools, 4,000 teachers and 94,000 students participated in the H&R Block Budget Challenge this year, and over $3 million in scholarships and classroom grants were awarded! Most importantly, we know that the principles learned in this Road Test for Personal Finance will continue to make a real difference in students lives. award-winning 2015 Children s Program of the Year Same award-winning, patented simulation (normally $20 per student) now to U.S. high schools through the generous sponsorship of H&R Block! Online Bill-Pay Budget Engage Real-time & Hands-on Maximize Virtual 401K Save Learn Individual Customer Service H&R Block Contest $3 Million in Prizes WIN

Most importantly, we know that the principles learned in this Road Test for Personal Finance will continue to make a real difference in students lives.

4 teachers sign-up today! Sign-up at hrbds.org Available to U.S. High School Students, see Official Contest Rules and Regulations for more details. new! teacher road map Week by week breakdown of simulation topics and engaging classroom activities. teachers helping teachers A help desk of experienced personal finance teachers available to answer teacher questions throughout the simulation. teachers play account Teachers can play along on student accounts. Get a first hand look at the student perspective. NEED CUSTOM SIMULATIONS? Sign up at bcsim.com week simulations are also available for $20 per student with customizable dates. The paid simulations do not include scholarship or grant opportunities. LET S GET READY FOR NEXT YEAR Over 90% of participating teachers plan to use Budget Challenge again! Don t miss out on this awesome (and ) opportunity! The simulations are shaping up to be our best yet! Check out what s new! Simulations Teachers: Class Creation by 11:55 p.m. local Students: Registration by 9:00 p.m. local Simulation Begins 11:55 p.m. local Simulation Ends 11:55 p.m. local 1 Sept 3 Sept 10 Sept 10 nov 19 2 Sept 17 Sept 24 Sept 24 dec 3 3 oct 1 oct 8 oct 8 dec 17 4 Jan 7 Jan 14 Jan 14 mar 24 5 Jan 21 Jan 28 Jan 28 apr 7 6 Feb 4 Feb 11 Feb 11 Apr OBTP# B HRB Tax Group, Inc.

teachers helping teachers A help desk of experienced personal finance teachers available to answer teacher questions throughout the simulation.

5 matter for students entering the real world. The statistics below were from a study of over 25,000 students, originally released in the Money article The High School Class That Makes People Richer: 92% said learning about money management was very important and 80% wanted to learn more 92% said they were more likely to check their account balance before writing a check 89% said they were more confident and 91% said they were more aware of money pitfalls and mistakes 87% said they were better able to avoid bank and credit card fees 84% said they were better able to understand fine print and 79% said they were better able to compare financial products 78% said they learned money management methods that worked best for them 53% said they were rethinking their college major or career choice

very important and 80% wanted to learn more 92% said they were more likely to check their account balance before writing a check 89% said they were more confident and 91% said they were more aware of

Analysis One Code Desc. Transaction Amount. Fiscal Period

Analysis One Code Desc. Transaction Amount. Fiscal Period Analysis One Code Desc Transaction Amount Fiscal Period 57.63 Oct-12 12.13 Oct-12-38.90 Oct-12-773.00 Oct-12-800.00 Oct-12-187.00 Oct-12-82.00 Oct-12-82.00 Oct-12-110.00 Oct-12-1115.25 Oct-12-71.00 Oct-12-41.00