The Budget Challenge Blog

Teachers now have the ability to customize their classes' default curriculum and quiz schedule. By default, each simulation has units and their accompanying quizzes opening in a staggered fashion each week starting on Thursdays. To support as much flexibility as possible, all quizzes are open to take until the last day of the simulation.

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.

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.

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.

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:

Budget Challenge is doing its best to help assist our teachers during this new and unknown teaching environment. While it may seem overwhelming transitioning to distance learning, you really only need to spend a few minutes a day keeping up with the simulation.

In light of school closures caused by COVID-19, we've compiled a list of strategies to use with your students to help ease the transition to distance learning.