Financial Literacy Symposium
On July 9, 2026, the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office partnered with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to host a full-day professional development event for middle and high school teachers. Our full resource binder contains session details, handouts, and bonus resources.
Plenary Session: Understanding Illinois Economic and Financial Literacy Standards
Learn how Illinois educators can bring financial literacy into the classroom with support from the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, Illinois State Board of Education, and Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. This session highlights practical teaching strategies, engaging activities, and useful resources for making financial education relevant and approachable for middle and high school students.
Plenary Session: Perspectives on Financial Literacy Panel Discussion
Explore why financial literacy education should begin before high school. This session examines culturally responsive and age-appropriate approaches that help younger students understand money, build practical financial skills, and develop the confidence to make informed and independent financial decisions as they grow.
Plenary Session: Money Museum
Discover how the Federal Reserve supports the U.S. economy, from processing cash and identifying counterfeit currency to serving banks and providing financial education. This session introduces students and educators to the Fed’s role in the financial system and offers a look at the interactive learning experiences available through the Money Museum.
Middle School Session: Teaching Investments to Middle School Students
Learn how to make investing concepts easier and more engaging for middle school students. This session introduces common investment terms, explores the Money Minded Investments curriculum, and demonstrates activities educators can use to help students understand investing, risk, and long-term financial decision-making.
Middle School Session: Planning a Middle School Money Fair
Learn how the Middle School Money Fair gives students an opportunity to explore financial topics through hands-on projects. This session explains how students develop and present their work, interact with financial professionals, and receive feedback while building financial knowledge, communication skills, and real-world connections.
Middle School Session: Federal Reserve Education Penny Budgeting
Explore a hands-on Federal Reserve budgeting lesson designed for middle school students. This session provides strategies for teaching students how to create a budget, distinguish between needs and wants, make thoughtful spending decisions, and understand how limited resources influence everyday financial choices.
High School Session: Connecting Macroeconomics and Personal Finance
Explore how economics and personal finance connect in ways that are meaningful to high school students. This session demonstrates how educators can use personal finance examples to explain broader economic concepts and help students understand how inflation, interest rates, and other economic forces can affect their everyday financial decisions.
High School Session: Teaching Students About Credit and Insurance
Explore how credit and insurance influence everyday financial decisions. This session helps educators explain how credit works, why credit history matters, and how responsible borrowing can affect future opportunities. It also introduces key insurance concepts that help students understand how individuals manage financial risk and protect themselves from unexpected costs.
High School Session: Teaching Investments to High School Students
Discover how investment knowledge can help students better understand money, markets, and the broader economy. This session provides practical approaches for teaching investment concepts and helping students connect topics such as interest rates, risk, and economic conditions to the financial choices they will make throughout their lives.
Help students build the decision-making skills they need for college, careers, and everyday life.
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