Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE)

Mission:

The Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE) is dedicated to ensuring that every citizen in Virginia is economically and financially literate. VCEE serves as the primary resource for K-12 teachers and school divisions across Virginia, including Louisa County and surrounding regions, by providing training and classroom resources for economic and financial education at little or no cost, thanks to support from public and private partners.

Services and Programs:

• Professional Development & Certification: Offers free workshops and certification programs for teachers at all grade levels (K-12) to enhance their ability to teach economics and personal finance.
• Curriculum Resources: Supplies state standards-aligned resources, lesson plans, and classroom activities for economic and financial education.
• Student Programs: Coordinates the Stock Market Game™, where students in grades 4-12 manage simulated investment portfolios and compete statewide, learning about saving, investing, and market forces.
• Special Initiatives: Runs programs such as the Mini-Economy Classroom Start-up Experience, Reading Makes Cents, Virginia Reads One Book, and the Virginia Personal Finance Teacher Fellowship Program.
• Annual Events: Hosts the Virginia Governor's Challenge in Economics & Personal Finance, a competition for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.
• Centers for Economic Education: Supports a statewide network of university-based centers that provide local training and resources, including institutes and workshops for educators.

Who They Serve:

• K-12 teachers and school divisions throughout Virginia, including Louisa County and neighboring areas.
• Students in grades K-12 through teacher-facilitated programs and competitions.
• Local and state governments seeking to improve economic education outcomes.

Eligibility and Access:

• Services are available to all Virginia K-12 educators, including those in public, private, and homeschool settings.
• Many resources and workshops are offered at no charge.

Service Area:

• Statewide across Virginia, explicitly including Louisa County and all surrounding counties.

Additional Information:

• VCEE is supported by a network of nine university-based Centers for Economic Education.
• The organization advocates for the inclusion of economic and financial literacy in state education standards and supports the required high school course in economics and personal finance.