Dollars & Sense is a semester-long, project-based program taught in CMSD high schools & first-ring suburbs, reaching over 400 students annually. Students earn a 0.5 elective credit while learning critical financial skills, with a strong focus on investing through a student-led investment club. The curriculum covers saving, budgeting, credit, taxes, insurance, and investing, blending classroom learning with hands-on experiences. Students will present a short-term financial plan as their final project. Funds support field trips to PNC Fairfax, the Federal Reserve, and the DECA State Competition, offering real-world finance insights. By combining classroom learning with hands-on experiences, we provide students with practical tools to navigate their financial futures confidently. More specifically, this program will:
Deliver project-based instruction on saving & budgeting, credit, investing, taxes, and insurance, allowing students to apply what they learn directly to their lives.
Provide monthly field trips to banks, where students will gain firsthand insights into the banking system, open personal accounts, and apply classroom concepts in real-world settings.
Guide each student in creating a financial plan that includes short-term goals and post-high school financing options, helping them make informed decisions about their futures.
Include participation in Breadwinners Academy’s Financial Literacy Academic Challenge, where students will apply their knowledge in a competitive and supportive setting, developing teamwork, communication, and financial skills.
Offer priority access to our Books to Bread summer program for selected students, providing hands-on learning with industry professionals and deepening their understanding of financial literacy.