High School Fed Challenge

Photo of Winners

2010 Orientation Dates Coming Up!

This is a great opportunity for both teachters and students to explore the finer points of the Fed Challenge.

State	Location	Date
Wisconsin	TBD	January 13, 2010
Michigan	Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago—Detroit Branch	January 15, 2010
Indiana	University of Notre Dame	January 22, 2010
Iowa	TBD	January 25, 2010
Illinois	Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago	January 28, 2010

Agendas for all sessions will be uploaded to this site in the near future, please check back often! If you would like to attend this event, you may register now with Mariann Rapp. We look forward to seeing you in January!

About the Fed Challenge

High School Fed Challenge is an academic competition that provides students grades 9–12 the opportunity to study the U.S. economy through the lens of the U.S. central bank. The program is designed to encourage students to learn more about economics and about the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)

, the policymaking group that makes interest rate decisions to foster economic strength and stability.

Students are charged with creating a simulated polcy discussion. The can do this any format, such as a newscast, an FOMC meeting, a talk show, etc. Each team of five students takes 15 minutes to analyze the U.S. economy, presents a short-term forecast for the economy, and makes a monetary policy recommendation. The team must then defend its presentation before a panel of Fed economists in a 10-minute question-and- answer session.

Each participating Federal Reserve District selects a champion, based on competitions within its district. The champions are all flown to Washington, D.C. to take part in the National Fed Challenge competition.

Building a 21st Century Learning Environment

Fed Challenge students:

Analyze real data and use industry tools to assess the US economy
Develop a simulation to showcase assessment and recommendations
Gain exposure to professional economists from the Chicago Fed and sister organizations
Be evaluated on quality of teamwork
Develop critical thinking skills in preparation for live question and answer session with professional economists
Make personal connections that will last beyond high school

21st Century Standards

Focuses on 21st Century Skills, content knowledge and expertise.
Builds understanding across and among core subjects, as well as 21st Century interdisciplinary themes.
Emphasizes deep understanding, rather than shallow knowledge.
Engages students with the real world data, tools and experts that they will encounter in college, on the job and in life: Students learn best when actively engaged in solving meaningful problems.
Allows for multiple measures of mastery.