Founded 2005 by Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Office of the State Treasurer, State Department of Banking, State Department of Education, Bank of America, Centers for Financial Education and Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

Mission: To improve the financial education of children in Connecticut.

Measurement: Increase numbers of children engaged in financial education programs – in school, after-school and through community organizations.

Program of work:

Research. Determine the level of understanding and behaviors of personal finance (especially spending, saving and credit use) among Connecticut children through surveys and other research. Also, collect and analyze data that underscore problems created by a lack of financial understanding and responsibility in this state.

Coordination. Develop an inventory of youth financial education programs in the state, serve as a convener of financial education providers and work to coordinate their work in a way that increases their impact.

Public Education. Support, develop and sponsor programs that educate children about the importance of saving, investing and spending money wisely.

Advocacy and Awareness. Increase public awareness of the importance of youth financial education and ensure that the issue is an important part of discussions of public policy – on both a state and local level. Seek support for public measures that would increase the levels of understanding of personal finance among Connecticut children.

The Connecticut Jump$tart Coalition is a non-profit organization with individuals and organizations representing business, government and education who have joined together to improve the personal financial literacy of Connecticut's youth.

The Connecticut Jump$tart Coalition is a proud affiliate of the National Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. The National Jump$tart Coalition, based in Washington, D.C., was first convened in 1995 and consists of over 200 organizations committed to improving the financial literacy of America's youth. For more information, visit their website at www.jumpstart.org.