May 24, 2024

Dear District Administrators, 

This edition of the biweekly communication includes the following:

Changes to Student Teaching Placement Requirements

FinCamp Prepares Staff to Teach Personal Financial Literacy

School-Based Mental Health Services Funding Requirements

Changes to Student Teaching Placement Requirements

FinCamp Prepares Staff to Teach Personal Financial Literacy

Act 60 requires students earn one-half credit of personal financial literacy (PFL) to graduate high school, starting with the class of 2028. To assist in preparing PFL teachers, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions has announced a two-day FinCamp 2024, June 24-25 (both days are required) in partnership with several organizations.

For districts using the Wisconsin Standards for Personal Financial Literacy to build their stand-alone PFL course to meet the Act 60 requirements, teachers who hold a social studies¹, business and information technology, or family and consumer sciences license are qualified to teach the course. See the PFL FAQ for more about licensing options. However, regardless of licensing, anyone who has not taught PFL before will appreciate the FinCamp presentation.

Returning PFL educators will appreciate the professional development offered at FinCamp as well, getting access to the latest curriculum and connecting with people who understand the PFL classroom.

Day 1 (12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) will consist of educational sessions provided by the Wisconsin Jump$tart Coalition and the Department of Public Instruction on Act 60, the Wisconsin Standards for PFL, and PFL curriculum. And Day 2 (8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.), NGPF FinCamp will offer a deep dive into curriculum.

The workshop is free. This includes free meals and a free one-night stay at Edgewood College in Madison. More information and registration is open now.

¹ This includes the new social studies license (2700) and social studies licenses prior to the repeal and recreation of PI 34 in 2018 (1710 - economics, 1701 – broadfield social studies, and 1700 – social studies).

School-Based Mental Health Services Funding Reminders

All districts and independent charter schools (ICSs) will receive the School Based Mental Health Services Funding aid payment on the last Monday of June. All school districts and ICSs are required to complete an annual report by July 31 via an online survey. The survey will open May 16 and close July 31 each year. For a copy of the questions included on the Annual Report, reference the End of Year Reporting Preview document. If funds have not been expended at the time of reporting, districts and ICSs should report on how they plan to use the funding. For additional information on this funding, reference the FAQ document. For questions about this information, contact Liz Krubsack, Mental Health Consultant, at elizabeth.krubsack@dpi.wi.gov. For questions regarding the online survey, please contact John Bowser, Research and Program Evaluation Consultant, at john.bowser@dpi.wi.gov.

Sincerely,