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NKU Center for Economic Education, Federal Reserve Bank held Danny Dollar Academy


Northern Kentucky University’s Center for Economic Education (CEE) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland welcomed area students for the Danny Dollar Academy presentations this week.

The Danny Dollar Academy teaches financial literacy through the story of an 11-year-old aspiring millionaire and his successful lemonade stand venture. Fourth and fifth graders from Cincinnati’s Rothenberg Preparatory Academy and Westwood School, Southgate Elementary, Holy Trinity in Bellevue and Barbourville’s Central Elementary will present their student-led projects.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Bahrani with 2018 Danny Dollar Academy Students. (NKU photo)

“The Academy is successful because we merge reading literacy with entrepreneurship, personal finance and economic education curriculum,” said Dr. Abdullah Al-Bahrani. “Students are encouraged to create their own businesses, and this real-life application helps make the project memorable.”

Ty Allan Jackson, the author of the “Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire” and founder of Big Head Books, wrote the story after he was unable to find a book that addressed the “dollars and the cents” question that his 6-year-old son had asked.

Impressed by the inclusiveness, diversity and educational value of the book, Dr. Abdullah Al-Bahrani, director of NKU CEE, reached out to Jackson in 2016 to develop a financial literacy program, ultimately bringing Danny Dollar Academy to life.

The four-week-long program that began in January started with students reading “Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire” in their classrooms. Lesson plans created by NKU CEE and the Federal Reserve of Cleveland connect the concepts in the book to state education standards.

The Academy culminates with the student projects that use the financial literacy concepts they learned in the Danny Dollar Academy.

From NKU


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