BY THE NUMBERS
100+
17K+
13
100+
20K+
13
Data from CELI Student Exit Surveys
100%
of surveyed CELI students responded that the program was both an enjoyable and educational experience for them
100%
of surveyed CELI students responded that the program taught them lessons that would be valuable to use for the rest of their lives.
100%
of surveyed CELI students responded that the program inspired them to take more classes economics & finance classes in high school.
85%
was the average score on the final assessment of the program, a comprehensive exam on the topics learned during the classes.
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Meet The Founders
Gabriel Agüero
Gabe Agüero is a senior at Edwin O Smith High School in Storrs, CT. He is extremely passionate about finding ways to apply economic theory to better decision-making on a global scale, and his primary goal with this initiative is to concentrate this application through economic educational programs and articles for the state he calls home.
Connor Dudas
Connor Dudas is a senior at Edwin O Smith High School in Storrs, CT. He is interested in integrating macroeconomic theory with practical financial principles and contributing to CELI’s ever growing body of research and scholarship on public policy, financial institutions, and fiscal developments in the Nutmeg state.
Business cycle
What does it mean when we are in a recession? What factors determine a healthy economy?
inflation
Learn why 1,000,000 dollars may not be as impressive as it sounds.
budgeting and investing
Taxes, retirement plans, and all of the important financial aspects that school doesn't teach.
Markets
From lemonade markets to stock markets, learn about how supply and demand affect our everyday lives.
What topics does Celi teach?
educational opportunities
If you are a middle school principal or teacher, please email us at cteconomicliteracy@gmail.com
to collaborate in implementing our program at your school.
If you are parent or middle schooler interested in attending our program, please register below.
Upcoming Events
Previous Student Quote
Great club! All I have to say is I had a great time overall!
Advisor
Testimonial
When Connor Dudas and Gabe Aguero approached me about hosting a middle school economics club, I was immediately onboard. I knew there would be a lot of student interest in this topic. The project was a great success. Connor and Gabe were able to convey their goals to potential participants in order to draw them in. They were able to keep students actively participating because of their careful planning for each session. Even though the club had to meet over Zoom, the sessions were interesting, fun, and filled with useful information. Connor and Gabe each have a deep understanding of economics and it was a pleasure to see how professionally they shared their knowledge with others.

Evidence
Based
Approach
Impacts of Previous Financial Literacy Initiatives
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Evidence from The Impact of School-Based Financial Education on High School Students and Their Teachers: Experimental Evidence from Peru
by Veronica Frisancho
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Link:
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The introduction of financial education improved students’ financial knowledge by 0.14 standard deviations.​
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Grade specific financial knowledge increased by 0.14 standard deviations.
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The treatment produced a 0.18 standard deviation increase in cumulative GPA.
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Mathematics and language performance increased by approximately 0.15-0.16 standard deviations.
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The aggregate improvement was 0.03 standard deviations for self control, with the largest individual deviation being identified among tenth graders (0.06 standard deviations).
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The intervention exerted a significant impact on financial behavior and was responsible for significant increases in price comparison and preferences for saving instead of borrowing, 1.2 and 1.3 percentage points, respectively.
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