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Northern Kentucky University Center for Economic Education hosts Danny Dollar Academy for Literacy


Northern Kentucky University’s Center for Economic Education (CEE) invites elementary students across the region to participate in the Danny Dollar Academy on Dec. 10, 2019.

Jackson with students (provided photos).

The Danny Dollar Academy teaches financial literacy through the story of an 11-year-old aspiring millionaire and his successful lemonade stand venture. The four-week program begins with students reading “Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire” and concludes with a visit from the book’s author, Ty Allen Jackson, in their classrooms.

Fourth and fifth graders from Latonia Elementary, Southern Elementary and Newport Independent schools will present their student-led projects to Jackson to complete the program.

Jackson, award-winning author of “Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire” wrote the story after he was unable to find a book that addressed the “dollars and the cents” question that his six-year-old son had. Impressed by the inclusiveness, diversity, and educational value of the book, Dr. Abdullah Al-Bahrani, director the Haile/US Bank College of Business’ CEE, reached out to Jackson in 2016 to develop a financial literacy program, bringing Danny Dollar Academy to life.

“I’m excited to see each presentation and how each of them gained an economic understanding of businesses. That’s why our program is essential to financial literacy growth – students often think entrepreneurship is for adults, and they are wrong,” said Dr. Al-Bahrani. “Jackson emphasizes that everyone can be an entrepreneur. We help them think about a problem they want to solve in society and how to develop a unique product offering.”

The academy has reached over 2,600 students in grades 3-6 across four states since its inception.

This year, they are on track to reach an additional 1,800 students through new partnerships with Eastern Kentucky University and Pittsfield Public Schools, located in Massachusetts. Lesson plans, created by NKU CEE and the Federal Reserve of Cleveland, connect the concepts in the book to state education standards.

For the first time, NKU CCE will be offering both fall and spring sessions of the Danny Dollar Academy. For more information on applying for the spring, visit here.

Northern Kentucky University


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One Comment

  1. soundos says:

    thanks for sharing

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