March 2021 Newsletter

March 2021 - Newsletter

Consumer Rights & Protection

Billions of dollars are lost every year from financial scams and identity theft. Being aware of these scams and knowing how to protect yourself and understanding how to keep your information secure will help keep you financially safe.

This month we wanted to share resources that can help you understand your rights as a consumer and safeguard your identity.

You will find resources that you can use in and out of the classroom to help make this topic come relatable to you and your students.

For all the parents, we wanted to make sure you protect the identity of your minor child. You can find more information from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) here on how to protect the identity of your child.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The CFPB protects consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices and take action against companies that break the law. They aim to make financial markets work for consumers and the economy as a whole.

Educating teachers and students in K-12 on understanding their financial rights as well as safeguarding their identity plays a role. You can search for different types of classroom activities here. We have highlighted a few activities you could use in protecting your identity and knowing your rights as a consumer:

Foolproof Foundation

Check out FoolProof’s Resources for teachers and students on consumerism. FoolProof is an independent resource that emphasizes critical thinking, being a healthy skeptic and relying on research. Go to the website and scroll through the Home page and click on Videos, Articles and Guides. Here is an example guide on Buying a Car.

FoolProof also has a full middle and high school curriculum that aligns 100% to the Michigan personal finance standards. Just click on Log in and request a user name and password.

Endorsed by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, FoolProof's new game, The NeighborMood, is now live on Apple and Google Play Stores. It works on Chromebooks too!

See the overview video and learn more here.

Follow Ali trying to navigate being a high school senior. Take the credit card offer? Buy the Zeus Pro shoes? Real world situations, FoolProof healthy skepticism lessons.

Michigan Department Insurance & Financial Services

DIFS regulates Michigan's financial service industry, including insurance, banks, and credit unions. As part of National Consumer Protection Week, they have put out consumer protection resources focused on staying safe online.

You can follow them on social media on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to learn more about upcoming news & releases.

National Consumer Protection Week

Free Tax Preparation Options

The IRS has created free opportunities for those individuals and families that quality. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help from IRS-certified volunteers. VITA services are available to people who earn $57,000 per year or less in 2020. You can locate a site near you by clicking here. Because of the pandemic, a lot of the on-site offerings may not be available. Many of the VITA sites have gone virtual to help you file your taxes. You can find more in-person tax help by calling 2-1-1, a free service that connects people in Michigan to community resources through the local United Way.

Other free, secure options are available. Here are a list of options that you can check out:

You can learn more about selecting each of these programs here.

It's also important to be prepared when you are filing your taxes. Here is a checklist of all the supporting documents you would need to have.

Finally, we know this can feel overwhelming to file your own taxes or doing the research around any of these programs. The College Investor YouTube Channel has created a playlist that breaks down each of the tax preparation software in short videos to help you learn the pros/cons of each.

Professional Development Opportunities

We are building a Calendar of professional development opportunities and other events. Please let us know if you have information to add. Below you will find several opportunities throughout the month of March.

Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) has many virtual opportunities. Here is the full list. Registration is now OPEN for Cohort #10. It's a 5-week, 9 hour courses to become certified in personal finance content. Cohort starts March 16th and runs through April 15th. You can learn more and register here.

Michigan Council on Economic Education (MCEE) has different professional development opportunities on its event calendar. On March 27th at 9AM EST they have a NGPF Virtual Fin Camp.

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension has financial literacy courses on its event calendar. They have a webinar on Tips to Build & Protect Your Credit on March 10th at 4PM EST.

Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) has an opportunity on March 15th at 7pm EST focused on Empowering Mathematic Educators online. You can register for the event here.

Teachers! We Want to Hear From YOU

Michigan Jump$tart Coalition wants to hear your “money stories” that you have been facing in and out of the classroom during this very difficult school year. Understanding those stories and resources you have been using that resonate with your students can help spread them to others.

You can share those stories by sending us a note at info.mijumpstart@gmail.com. For those that share, you will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card.

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