The Nebraska Council on Economic Education (NCEE), located at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration, is celebrating 50 years of service to the citizens of Nebraska. Started in 1963 as a small partnership to promote economic literacy, the council has grown into a unique public/private partnership that leads the nation in economic education programming and curriculum development.  
 
“After 50 years of success, we now look forward to 50 more years of innovation,” says Dr. Roger Butters, president of NCEE and assistant professor of economics at CBA. “But one thing remains the same – the necessity of economic literacy for each generation to successfully navigate the challenges of their time.”
 
The NCEE has trained and supported K-12 teachers, developed national programs, written curricula and won national awards for their contributions to economic education. The programs of the council and its five centers are focused on directly educating Nebraska’s students and providing professional development for K-12 teachers to advance economic literacy.
 
In the years past, the council was one of the first to develop computer-based curriculum materials called Virtual Economics, and has been a leader in educational online programming with its Econ and Finance Challenges ONLINE! NCEE also led the way through its fellowship program for Nebraskan teachers with initial funding from the National Science Foundation, face-to-face consulting and support.
 
“Economic literacy is empowering,” Butters explains. “It gives people the knowledge and tools they need to understand the world around them and be an active participant in it.”
 
The council invites the general public to join in the celebration by learning more about the importance of economics with family and friends. Major NCEE events throughout the year include the Regional Finance Challenges in Lincoln, Omaha and North Platte on April 20; the Nebraska Economics and Business Association Annual Meeting in Omaha on October 25 and the annual Money Smart Week with events across Nebraska in November.
 
“People can also make a commitment to advancing economic literacy in the lives of Nebraska’s students by making a tax-deductible donation to the council in honor of its golden anniversary,” Butters said.
 
The NCEE supports five centers for economic education throughout the state with offices at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Chadron State College and Wayne State College. To learn more, visit http://www.nebraskacouncil.org/.
 
The NCEE and the Center for Economic Education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln serve as teaching, research and service units of the Department of Economics and the College of Business Administration. Published: April 2, 2013