Introduction and Background
The National Council on Economic Education
The Georgia Council on Economic Education
The Centers for Economic Education
EconomicsAmerica Systems and Independent Schools

Introduction and Background        < top >

Economic understanding is fundamental to a democratic society in which individuals daily make decisions as citizens, wage earners and consumers. The Georgia Council on Economic Education believes that economic understanding is as necessary for the students of Georgia as the ability to read, write and compute and is committed to the support of teacher education that will ensure each child in Georgia’s public and independent schools have the opportunity to learn the principles of economics in a free society. Georgia has recognized the importance of economics by including it in the state’s Georgia Performance Standards and national and statewide tests. EconomicsAmerica provides a process by which educators can effectively integrate economics into their curricula. Participation entails commitment by schools to use quality economic education materials at relevant points in the curricula, to support their teachers’ participation in teacher training programs, and to implement evaluation programs. Declaration of Intent

The National Council on Economic Education will provide the following service:          < top >

Provide each EconomicsAmerica cooperating independent school or public school system with a sampling of materials, including the EconomicsAmerica Coordinator’s Handbook, to assist in curriculum revision and in-service training of teachers. Provide national recognition by identifying each cooperating independent school or school system as a participant in EconomicsAmerica. Cosponsor regional and national conferences geared toward EconomicsAmerica participants. Through publications and other means, inform participating schools about new materials and developments in economic education.

The Georgia Council on Economic Education will provide the following services:          < top >

Continue to foster a climate in Georgia which encourages the Georgia Department of Education and related agencies, civic organizations, business, agriculture and labor organizations and other decision makers to support sound economic education endeavors. Give priority to EconomicsAmerica teachers and administrators as participants in conferences and other activities it sponsors. Fund and coordinate the activities of its Centers for Economic Education related to developing resource materials such as bibliographies, case studies and strategies guides. Provide partial tuition scholarships for teacher participation in graduate credit summer workshops and support staff development and in-service workshops. Provide consulting and coordination services where possible to its Centers for Economic Education. Serve as a key communication liaison among centers, EconomicsAmerica cooperating schools and other organizations that engage in economic education activities. Maintain a free-loan library of resource materials including videos and print items. Support and coordinate activities such as the Teacher of the Year competition, the Stock Market Game, the Economic Education Awards competition and the state Social Science Fair.

The Centers for Economic Education will serve in these ways:          < top >

Provide consultant services to EconomicsAmerica cooperating school systems and independent schools, including curriculum review and development, in-service programming, resource materials, and program evaluation. Provide information on new and existing economic education instructional materials and on research in economic education. Assist in establishing community and college/university contacts to provide needed resources and services. Encourage cooperation and facilitate communication among existing and new EconomicsAmerica school systems and independent school sin planning and implementing in-service training and other activities. Arrange conferences, workshops and other activities to assist EconomicsAmerica cooperating schools. Work with college and university administrators to strengthen undergraduate preparation of teachers for teaching economics at all levels. Conduct research in economic education.

EconomicsAmerica Systems and Independent Schools will perform the following activities:         < top >

Establish economic education as a curricular emphasis. Designate an appropriate staff member or members as the EconomicsAmerica coordinate or co-coordinators. Develop short and long-range plans for implementing economic education throughout the school system or school at all grade levels. Allocate adequate resources for the development, maintenance and improvement of sound programs. Provide time for the training of teachers and administrators to be involved in the program. Develop an ongoing process of evaluation for EconomicsAmerica activities. Acquire and distribute materials that area appropriate for the improvement of economic education to both teachers and students. Review curriculum guides and support materials for the inclusion of economic concepts. Submit progress reports as agreed upon with the Center and/or the Council. Join EconomicsAmerica.