Students from San Antonio and South Texas Areas Participate in the Stock Market Game Program Thanks to a $25,000 Grant from Cabrera Capital Markets, LLP
TEXAS – February 14, 2011 – The spring semester of the Stock Market Game™, a program administered statewide by the Texas Council for Economic Education, kicked off on February 7, 2011.
The Stock Market Game is an innovative educational experience that includes an online simulation with carefully integrated curriculum. Students increase their personal finance skills as they learn math, economics, social studies and the importance of saving and investing for the long term. Over 35,000 Texas students in grades 4-12 participated in the program during the 2010-2011 school year.
Starting with a hypothetical cash balance of $100,000, student teams work cooperatively to increase the value of their trading account. Students compete with area students and tops teams are recognized and receive awards. The program has been updated in recent years to better reflect the investment options available and enhance the educational experience for students. These enhancements include the addition of bonds and mutual funds to the trading platform and the national InvestWrite essay contest.
The Stock Market Game also provides teachers with comprehensive lessons, assessments and projects as part of the overall curriculum. Students work in teams and practice management skills, cooperation, and negotiation skills as they compete for the top spot.
Area students are be able to participate at no charge thanks to the support of Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC. Cabrera Capital Markets has supported the Stock Market Game in the San Antonio and Houston areas for many years as part of their commitment to help young people become financially independent and competitive in the global marketplace. They have significantly increased their support this year to increase the number of students who have the opportunity to participate.
Martin Cabrera, CEO of Cabrera Capital Markets, is committed to funding the program in an effort to improve financial literacy. “I participated in The Stock Market Game when I was in high school,” said Mr. Cabrera, “it’s what got me excited about the investment world. But you don’t have to be an aspiring broker to learn valuable lessons. As students participate, they absorb information about how our economy and capital markets work.”
Research shows that The Stock Market Game TM is effective.
A 2009 rigorous, randomized controlled trial found that the program improved student performance in mathematics and increased students’ financial literacy.
See http://www.learningpt.org/smg/smg_summary.pdf
The National Assessment of Educational Progress reported in 2007 that a stock market game improves economic scores for high school students across all demographics. Additionally, the Jump$tart Coalition’s biannual Survey of Personal Financial Literacy, showed that participation in a stock market game improved the personal financial literacy scores of high school and college students that participated when they were in high school.
About Cabrera Capital Markets
Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC is a full service broker-dealer headquartered in the heart of Chicago’s financial district. The Cabrera Team takes great pride in consistently bringing professional results to their clients. Combining the experience of our investment professionals with the latest technology we develop customized and innovative business solutions that our clients have come to expect. For more information, please contact Justin Rodriguez at (210) 558-2876.