We teach students how to manage money by giving them real money to manage!
Our student-lead, project-based, learning-by-doing approach is based on Participatory Budgeting, a structured process that empowers students as they grapple with real-world choices in a way that helps prepare them for the financial decisions they will make as independent young adults.
As shown in these videos, students make an incredible impact. At the Academy of American Studies in Queens, NY, students ended up purchasing more feminine care products for the girls' bathrooms, while students at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, CA ended up choosing more outdoor seating for lunch.
If this kind of empowerment sounds appealing, let’s start a conversation of what this might look like for your school and students.
Take a look at what teachers have to say about FirstRoot!
Why do Participatory Budgeting in Schools?
Through Participatory Budgeting, students will...

“It has been so wonderful to see the students' enthusiasm for the opportunity to improve their school while exploring design thinking! They are grappling with the real-world challenges of digging into the costs and logistics of project proposals to evaluate their feasibility.”
Shana Cash
Teacher/Coach at Purdue Polytechnic High School