FOUNDATION PROMOTES FINANCIAL EDUCATION BY KIDS FOR KIDS
BizKid$, an Emmy award-winning public television series underwritten by credit unions and supported by an MnCUF grant, is an educational program in which kids teach kids about money and business. The series puts students’ peers in a variety of situations that illustrate how to use credit wisely and that reinforce the importance of budgeting, saving, investing and giving back to their communities.
Fast Facts
- The PBS program has a viewing audience of 1.2 million per episode and has reached 192 million households nationwide since its launch in January 2008.
- It has aired on more than 340 PBS stations across the country, including four stations that cover Minnesota markets and has broadcast in all 50 states.
- BizKid$ has the highest pick-up rate with public broadcasters of any children’s program broadcast by American Public Television. Find more BizKid$ facts click here.
Credit union ties
Since fundraising for the show began, the credit union system and its affiliates have contributed more than $10.4 million – including $3.4 million in grants from National Credit Union Foundation – to produce the BizKid$ series, its website and curriculum, which is available free to credit unions to use in their own financial literacy education programs. The series is based on national financial literacy standards.
As national underwriters, credit unions have full access to the show and the curriculum, which is designed for families and children from fifth grade through high school. Box sets can be purchased at cost or recorded off of PBS, and the curriculum is free and available for download from the BizKid$ website. In addition, credit unions have a 15-second underwriting spot that begins and ends each episode, and credit unions are recognized on the BizKid$ site, classroom curriculum and outreach materials.
The National Credit Union Foundation supports BizKid$ and, in an effort to expand its scope and nationwide appeal, took over fundraising and administration of the series in June of 2011. To read more about the show’s transition from Washington Credit Union Foundation to NCUF click here.
See it in Minnesota!
BizKid$ airs on numerous public television stations in Minnesota, including Twin Cities Public Television stations KTCA and KTCI. In 2010, Pioneer Public Television stations KWCM and KSMN began broadcasting the show, along with Lakeland Public Television stations KAWB and KAWE. Below is a table of PBS stations with Minnesota viewing audiences that carry the series.
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Market
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Stations
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City
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Channels
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Duluth-Superior
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WDSEDT, WDSEDT2, WDSEDT3, WDSEDT4
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Duluth
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8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4
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Duluth-Superior
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WRPTDT, WRPTDT2, WRPTDT3, WRPTDT4
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Hibbing
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31.1, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4
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Fargo-Valley City, ND
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KCGEDT, KCGEDT2, KCGEDT3, KCGEDT4
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Crookston
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16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4
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Minneapolis
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KWCMDT, KWCMDT2, KWCMDT3, KWCMDT4
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Appleton
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10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4
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Minneapolis
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KAWEDT, KAWEDT2, KAWEDT3, KAWEDT4, KAWEDT5, KAWEDT6
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Bemidji
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9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6
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Minneapolis
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KAWBDT, KAWBDT2, KAWBDT3, KAWBDT4, KAWBDT5, KAWBDT6
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Brainerd
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22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5, 22.6
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Minneapolis
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KTCADT, KTCADT2, KTCADT3, KTCADT4
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St. Paul
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2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4
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Rochester
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KSMQDT, KSMQDT2, KSMQDT3, KSMQDT4
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Austin
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15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4
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Sioux Falls, SD
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KSMNDT, KSMNDT2, KSMNDT3, KSMNDT4
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Worthington
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20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4
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More About the Series
BizKid$ has produced four seasons, each with 13 episodes that focus on relevant financial topics. Season 4 episodes began airing in April 2011 on PBS stations all over the country. Its 13 episodes focus on life skills such as goal-setting, protecting against identity theft and understanding taxes; and they feature kids such as an 11-year-old iPhone app designer, a 15-year-old aviator who purchased his own plane and a 16-year-old with a fashion recycling business.
The series is based on national financial literacy standards. It makes financial lessons fun with silly spoofs on movies and pop star parodies, entertaining its audience while it educates.
Read more about Season 4 topics below. Click on episode descriptions to get a summary of all BizKid$ episodes from Seasons 1-4.
SEASON 4 EPISODES
#401
“A World Without Taxes”
Explore how taxes impact your life. Find out about the importance of federal, state and local taxes and learn what they pay for. Meet young business owners who sell lacrosse socks and others who serves as swimming instructors and hear how they handle taxes.
#402
“Debt: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly”
With credit cards, it’s easy to spend more than you make. Learn to avoid the pitfalls of overspending by keeping a spending journal, sticking to a budget and living a cash existence. Meet the owner of a carpet cleaning company and a radio DJ who have both learned how to manage debt.
#403
“Your First Big Purchase”
You’ll want to understand the steps that are important to take before you make your first big purchase, whether you’re buying a computer, a smartphone or a car. You will learn about budgeting, researching and negotiating. Find our how a teen photographer upgrades his camera and a 15-year-old aviator purchased an old airplane.
#404
“What’s Up With The Stock Market”
Learn the language of the stock market and how these terms apply to your life. Meet an 11-year-old who created an application for the iPhone that helps teach other kids about the stock market.
#405
“Crash Course On Starting A Business”
So, you’ve got an idea – now what? Check out this quick but comprehensive course on business basics. You’ll learn how to refine your ideas, make a business plan, identify funding sources, find a market and sell your service or product. Find out how two teen girls developed a $2 million business out of magnetic bottle caps.
#406
“How To Make A Million Bucks”
It is possible! If you start early and save consistently, you’ll take advantage of the power of compound interest. You can make a million by working hard, spending less than you make and saving, saving, saving. Meet a 16-year-old with a fashion recycling business.
#407
“Scam-a-rama (Protecting Yourself From Being Scammed)
It’s a complicated world, and there are many ways you can be taken advantage of or cheated. Learn how to protect yourself from identity theft, pyramid schemes and more.
#408
“The Value Of Money”
With many currencies around the world, what determines the value of money? What are the factors that raise or lower the value of the American dollar? Why is the dollar measured against the Chinese yuan or the Japanese yen, or the euro? Learn why the value of the dollar is important in your life.