A Message From The Superintendent
February 12th, 2024
STANDARD PRESS RELEASE
Contact Information:
Hoboken Public School District
Christopher Munoz
201-356-3738/201-978-2164
Christopher.Munoz@hoboken.k12.nj.us
RELEASE DATE: Monday, February 12, 2024
Financial Literacy Set to Begin in Kindergarten with Fin Lit Curriculum in the Hoboken Public School District
Hoboken, NJ, - Monday, February 12th, the Hoboken Public School District is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Fin Lit Kids, a pioneering edutainment company founded by Ebony Beckford, dedicated to enhancing financial literacy among young learners. Together, they are set to implement “Play & Prosper”, a dynamic instructional method that integrates interactive games, activities, books, and music into the district’s K-2 Social Studies Curriculum to teach children fundamental financial literacy concepts in a playful and engaging manner.
Play & Prosper is an innovative approach that combines hands-on, authentic learning with real-world financial concepts, creatively tailored to meet the needs of children from Kindergarten through 2nd Grade. This initiative marks a significant step towards equipping the youngest learners of the Hoboken Public School District with the essential skills and knowledge that they need to navigate the complexities of money management from an early age. Students will identify, name, and count coins. They will also explore the concepts of saving, spending, and investing.
High School students in the State of New Jersey must complete a half-year course (2.5 credits) in financial or business literacy. At Hoboken High School, students exceed the state’s minimum requirements. Hoboken High School students complete a full year course (5 credits) which consists of a semester of personal finance and a semester of business ethics in order to graduate. Upon completion of the course, all students sit for the National W!SE Financial Literacy Certification Test.
The full year course at Hoboken High School is rooted in the New Jersey Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills Learning Standards which address Personal Financial Literacy Standards that are outlined to be met by the end of Grades 2, 5, 8 and 12. These learning standards were introduced in 2015 and further developed in 2019. The Hoboken Public School District regularly accesses the tools, resources, and free courses found on the “financial wellness platform” that New Jersey launched in 2022 when designing curriculum to fully integrate financial literacy standards at the secondary level, but much like in most districts, are still working to more effectively do so at the elementary and middle school levels.
Superintendent Dr. Christine Johnson expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership with Fin Lit Kids, stating, "We are committed to providing our elementary and middle school students with a well-rounded education that includes life skills that are essential for their success. Partnering with Fin Lit Kids allows us to integrate a vital component of learning into our curriculum—financial literacy. We believe that Play & Prosper will not only educate our youngest learners but will also empower them to establish the foundations needed to make sound financial decisions in the future.”
During the summer months, Hoboken Public School District’s Office of Curriculum of Instruction plans to strengthen financial literacy strands found within the district’s Grade 3 through 8 Social Studies Curricula. This work will serve as a seamless bridge between the dynamic Fin Lit Kids Curriculum and the course that all students take at Hoboken High School.
Ebony Beckford, the founder of Fin Lit Kids and the pioneer of the Play & Prosper Method and Program, shared her excitement about the collaboration, saying, "Our mission at Fin Lit Kids has always been to lay a strong foundation of financial literacy for children at an early age. By joining forces with the Hoboken Public School District, we're able to bring this vision to life on a larger scale. The Play & Prosper Method allows us to design a financial literacy curriculum to be fun, engaging, and educational, ensuring that children learn crucial financial concepts through play."
The Hoboken Public School District will pilot Play & Prosper this spring in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade classrooms across the district and plans to fully implement the curriculum in September of 2024. It will then pilot Play & Prosper in Grades 3 through 8 throughout the 2024-2025 school year with implementation plans set for September 2025.
For more information about the partnership between the Hoboken Public School District and Fin Lit Kids, please contact:
E-mail: info@finlitkidsbox.com
Background:
About Fin Lit Kids: Founded by Ebony Beckford, Fin Lit Kids is at the forefront of financial literacy education for young children. With a range of innovative products and programs, Fin Lit Kids aims to empower parents, educators, and children with the knowledge and skills needed to establish a solid foundation in money management from an early age.