The Budget Challenge Blog

Hilary Ruttenberg is an economics teacher at Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Hilary took the time to share her recent experience implementing Budget Challenge in a blended classroom setting which includes online instruction and in person.

We love sharing creative ways that teachers secure funding for Budget Challenge. Teachers who have earned the appropriate number of points with DonorsChoose can request a Special Project. Carrie Rugenstein, a math teacher at Lincoln High School in Owosso, MI recently shared how she was able to secure funding for Budget Challenge with the help of DonorsChoose and a community sponsor.

Mariellen Rechtin who teaches in two Cincinnati homeschool high school co-ops, Divine Mercy Homeschool Coop and All Saints Studies Group, shared her expertise in implementing Budget Challenge in a unique setting.

Holly Toft, an Economics teacher at Mount Michael Benedictine School in Elkhorn, NE a seasoned user of Budget Challenge recently shared her experience with us.

At Budget Challenge, we are well aware of the many challenges our teachers are facing due to Covid-19. We know how busy our teachers are with the many additional demands placed on them. Because of that we are pre-releasing sections of our new companion financial literacy textbook which will be included with all Budget Challenge licenses. Our new e-textbook is one of the most up-to-date and comprehensive resources available. It includes significantly expanded content compared to our existing curriculum along with new assessment tools to promote student learning.

To better protect our students we recently updated our policies and no longer require students to register using Personal Identifying Information.

Getting ready to register your class? Here are a few tips to help ensure a smooth registration period.

Many teachers across the country are having to adjust to a Distance Learning platform. We spoke with Celeste Smith in Chicago, IL with CP Online Academy, who utilized Budget Challenge as a successful resource.

We want to invite you to join the fun and take a look at our weekly raffle winners for the 2020 Teacher Challenge. If you see your name on the list and haven't claimed your prize please reach out to us at support@budgetchallenge.freshdesk.com. This does not exclude winners from the money raffles at the end of the Teacher Challenge. Our final and grand prize raffles will take place on August 3rd.

Did you know that Budget Challenge is eligible for full funding under the CARES Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (“ESSER”) funds? Find out more here: