Press Releases

For Immediate Release
March 08, 2004	Contact: Cheryl Weiss (608) 264-7875

Governor Doyle Endorses Expanded 2004Teacher-Training Program As Registration Opens

(Madison) Today, Governor Jim Doyle announced his support of the Wisconsin Jump$tart Coalition's 2004 Wisconsin Institute of Financial and Economic Education ("WIFEE"). WIFEE is a series of three one-week teacher-training programs held in the summer on the campus of Edgewood College in Madison. Registration opens today for the 2004 sessions that train educators in teaching personal finance, money management and economics. The coordinator of these courses, the Wisconsin Jump$tart Coalition, promotes financial education and financial literacy in the Badger state and the programs' host sponsor is CBM Credit Education Foundation, Inc. of Madison.

"These programs are an important supplement for educators who want to bring personal finance and economics education into their classrooms," said Governor Doyle. "Today's youth have access to an ever-increasing number of financial products and services yet, numerous studies confirm that they know little about money management. The situation is a formula for financial disaster and these programs directly address the problem," added Governor Doyle.

The 2004 sessions for teachers in multiple disciplines include:

• Financial Milestones and Entrepreneurship, June 21-25, 2004, focuses on the anatomy of a paycheck and employee benefits, entrepreneurship and related topics. Participants will spend a day visiting businesses created by Wisconsin entrepreneurs.
• Saving, Investing and Insurance, July 12-16, 2004, deals with saving, investment basics, insurance choices and associated topics. It also includes a tour of Milwaukee's financial district including a luncheon at Northwestern Mutual.
• Credit and Money, August 2-6, 2004, covers consumer credit, budgeting, monetary policy and connected topics. It includes a tour of the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago's Federal Reserve Bank with an on-site luncheon at the bank.

Wisconsin educators will soon receive an eight-page catalog in the mail detailing the programs. Teachers of personal finance, family and consumer sciences, social studies, economics, math, business and others who want to acquire the skills to teach about financial topics will benefit. Superintendents, directors, administrators, and principals of high schools, middle schools, and grade schools are also invited to attend. The catalog and enrollment form are available on the DFI website at: www.wdfi.org or at the Wisconsin Jump$tart website at: www.wijumpstart.org.

The tuition fee of $150 includes parking, meals, refreshments and lodging, if needed. Participants can earn three graduate credits per program for an additional fee of $375 per program. For more information or to request a free catalog, contact DFI's Teresa Walker at 608-267-1713 or teresa.walker@dfi.state.wi.us.