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The H. Kenneth Barker Center for

Economic Education

Barker Center Founders

Call for Presenters, Exhibitors, & Sponsors (Now Open)

2025 Ohio Teaching Financial Literacy Conference

July 14 & 15th, 2025

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Spots Limited

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Upcoming Programming

Workshop

Date

Location

Price

Building Wellness:
Advancing Health
Equity through
Financial Education (Rethinking Race Series)

Flyer

Tuesday, November 19th 2024
from 4:30 - 6:00 pm (EST)

Akron, Ohio

Location: Jean Hower Taber Student Union, Room 312

Free

Profits & Persecution: Germany Big Business in the Nazi Economy & Holocaust w/ Author Peter Hayes

Flyer

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 from 4:30 - 6:00 pm (EST)

Akron, Ohio

Location: TBA

 

  • Lecture: Free ($8.00 Optional  Donation)
  • VIP Author Meet & Great ($98.00)

Study Tour to Germany & Poland (Economics & Holocaust Education)

Educator Scholarships Available!

Flyer

Travel Dates: June 4 - 16th, 2025 Germany & Poland $3,500

Ohio Teaching Financial Literacy Conference



July 14 & 15, 2025 from 8:00 am - 2:30 pm (EST)

University of Akron, Main Campus $249 (Early Bird)

*Programming offered through affiliate for partner organizations

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About The H. Kenneth Barker Center for Economic Education

The Barker Center is a nonprofit partnership of leaders from the education and business communities dedicated to economic literacy. We prepare and support the teaching and learning of economics in grades K-16. Our goal is to educate educators so they can bring high quality, standards-based instruction to their students.

We believe every child in every school can benefit from practical economic knowledge that will influence better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities. The Center and our partners contribute to the region’s economic health and vibrancy.

More about the Center

  • About
  • Educator Resources
  • Ways to Give
    • s

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Past Events

Educator Study Tours in Global Economic Education

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Since our founding in 1974, the Barker Center has prioritized teacher trainings in the area of global economic education. Programing has included educator study tours, visiting scholar exchanges, research, and curriculum development. Programing has focused on the exploration of global economic systems related to the factors of production, international trade and investment, and contemporary global economic issues; namely, development towards poverty abolition. 

View more details here

Family Financial Fun Nights

Station 1_Earning Power.jpgThe Barker Center was amongst the first Centers in the country to pilot and implement Family Financial Fun Nights in area elementary, middle, and secondary schools. We combine financial education with fun, participants rotate between financial fun learning stations, all aligned to Ohio's Financial Literacy Standards and financial fundamentals while earning prizes along the way.

We've partnered with a variety of area schools and financial service partners to successfully organize and implement these community financial fun events. Contact us to learn more about hosting one of these events at your school!

Read the full story


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In the News

Govenor Dewine signing into bill required financial literacy for high schoolers

Dec. 14, 2021 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed into law historic legislation that requires all high school students to take a semester-long course specifically devoted to financial literacy. Our Executive Director, Dr. Brad Maguth, worked with lawmakers to help advocate and shape this critical legislation.

A special thank you to the Bill’s sponsors, State Senators Steven Wilson (District 7) & Rob McColley (District 1), for their efforts to advance this legislation. The new graduation requirement will start with high school freshmen entering in 2022-23. Educators are also required to complete specialized training to demonstrate competency (in earning a state financial literacy validation) in order to be eligible to teach this financial literacy course. Funding for teacher training has been provided in the legislation.

Are you interested in learning more about Senate Bill 1? In accessing high-quality standards-based resources and techniques to teach financial literacy? If so, be sure to reach out to Center staff, with over with over 45 years of offering teacher professional development opportunities and resources, to best meet your individual, school/district, or organization's needs.

2023 Teaching Financial Literacy Conference

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The Center welcomed educators from across Ohio, the USA, and world to its hybrid 2023 Teaching Financial Literacy Conference in Akron, OH on July 6th & 7th! Professional educators joined industry professionals to access standards-based, high leverage practices and insights in teaching K12 economics and financial literacy. A secondary teacher from Japan that attended noted, "This conference helped me access important financial literacy resources to help move my instruction and students to the next level." 

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Why is financial literacy is important?

Financial Literacy

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