Kendall Hunt Goes Beyond the Textbook with Financial Literacy Program

DUBUQUE, Iowa, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In a world of increasing financial complexity, where financial decisions can have lifelong consequences, financial literacy is more important than ever. High school students − who will soon face some of life's most difficult financial decisions – deserve a playbook that equips them to navigate these decisions, and they haven't really had one – until now.

Introducing finEDge – a unique, comprehensive financial education program that shapes high school students' long-term financial behaviors by encouraging questioning, discussion and applying concepts to one's own life and unique financial situation. Created by Magnetar Capital Foundation and the experts at the University of Chicago under their joint initiative – The Magnetar Capital UChicago Financial Education Initiative, – this one-semester course is now exclusively available at Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.

"finEDge is the latest addition to our line of programs that encourage growth beyond the classroom," said Kendall Hunt K-12 Vice President Charley Cook. "We are proud to provide teachers with the necessary tools to support diverse student backgrounds while focusing on a topic as important as financial literacy."

finEDge's content and pedagogical approach are rooted in principles of learning science and behavioral change research. It is designed to teach in ways students learn best, fostering experiential learning and discussion. Its seven modules cover financial decision-making, saving and spending, borrowing, earning, investing, managing risk and financing education.

"A comprehensive, research-based program is essential for all high-school students to better understand and navigate the financial system," said Rebecca Maxcy, Director of the UChicago Financial Education Initiative. "Kendall Hunt is well equipped to leverage its resources to bring finEDge to more teachers and students across the country."

The goal of finEDge is for students to leave the program with an integrated, self-reinforcing foundation of productive financial decision-making skills, attitudes and knowledge – that prepare them for long-term success as adults.

"You cannot escape finance – it underpins everything in life. Yet students regularly leave our high school education systems without a tool-kit for navigating the potentially life-altering financial decisions they'll soon face," said Alec Litowitz, founder and CEO of Magnetar Capital. "We firmly believe that financial education is a right, not a privilege, and are excited to partner with Kendall Hunt to give students and teachers nationwide access to this critical skill-set through the best-in-class finEDge curriculum."

About Kendall Hunt

Celebrating 75 years of providing innovative educational solutions, Kendall Hunt publishes hands-on science, mathematics, gifted and virtual reality curricula for grades K-12, in addition to the only free, certified Illustrative Mathematics middle school and high school curriculum for students in grades 6-12. In conjunction with offering a variety of stand-alone K-12 products, ConstructEd, a division of Kendall Hunt, allows schools and/or teachers, to create made-to-order textbooks or digital products using existing products or creating their own. For more information, visit https://k12.kendallhunt.com.

About University of Chicago and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

As one of the world's premier research universities, the University of Chicago empowers students and scholars through its commitment to free and open inquiry. Across numerous departments and disciplines, as well as more than 140 institutes and centers, the UChicago community advances ideas and innovations that enrich human life. Learn more at: http://www.uchicago.edu. The University of Chicago Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation brings the power of ideas in the laboratory, classroom and community to the world. Through education, resources, and programs, the Polsky Center commercializes discoveries, partners with companies, and attracts venture capital. The mission of the Polsky Center is to support students, faculty, alumni, and community members by bridging the gap between knowledge and practice, idea and action, and research and impact. Learn more at polsky.uchicago.edu.

About Magnetar Capital Foundation

Established in 2011, the Magnetar Capital Foundation is the charitable arm of Magnetar Capital, an alternative asset manager based in Evanston, Illinois. The Foundation works to democratize access to financial education across the U.S. – believing that high-quality financial education is a right, not a privilege, and is key to empowering equality of opportunity and long-term success. Since its founding, the Foundation has committed over $10 million to financial education initiatives and has educated more than 21,000 students. The Foundation also hosts the Magnetar Team Challenge, an annual mock stock trading and financial literacy competition for students taking finEDge.

SOURCE Kendall Hunt Publishing