Certell Impact Report June 2023 loading...
Fostering a generation
Fostering a generation
of independent thinkers
of independent thinkers
Progress Report
Progress Report
June 2023
June 2023
Fostering a generation
Fostering a generation
of independent thinkers
of independent thinkers
Progress Report
Progress Report
June 2023
June 2023
Message from our
President & CEO
On behalf of everyone at Certell and the teachers who use our resources, I would
like to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and generosity.
Your commitment to our mission has made a profound impact on the lives of
millions of students. Your donations have enabled us to achieve remarkable
milestones and carry out vital initiatives. Thanks to your support, we were able to
expand the scope of our mission into higher education which will make a tangible
difference in the lives of the individuals who may not have otherwise been able to
attend college.
We understand that behind each donation is a story, a compassionate heart, and a
desire to make the world a better place. Your belief in our vision has inspired us to
push boundaries, innovate, and strive for excellence. Your contributions have
helped paved the way for long-term solutions, fostering lasting change, and
creating a brighter future for all.
Once again, thank you for your exceptional generosity and for being an integral
part of our story. Your support has been instrumental in our journey, and we are
profoundly grateful for your trust and belief in our mission. We look forward to
continuing our partnership and working together to achieve even greater heights.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Fred J. Fransen, Ph.D
Certell helps teach kids to think, not what to think.
POPTENTIAL
Certell’s award-winning
Poptential high school
curriculum introduces an
understanding of basic
economics and the proper role
of government into classrooms
*Access to student data is complicated by privacy
restrictions. We derive the number of students
reached by multiplying the number of teachers by
100 students per semester (five classes x 20
students/class).
At Certell, we envision a world where all individuals have access to the
educational tools they need to think independently and live abundantly. We
believe that education is the foundation of a healthy and thriving society. All
people deserve access to a well-rounded and unbiased education that prepares
them to be informed and engaged citizens. Simply put, we seek to empower
individuals to participate in our democracy by educating them on their rights and
responsibilities, the structure of government, and the importance of civic
engagement.
Unfortunately, too often, students receive a narrow and biased education that
fails to adequately prepare them for their role in society. This is especially true in
Civics, Economics, American History, and World History, where students are
frequently exposed to one-sided perspectives and incomplete narratives.
That is why we are
committed to providing
students with a
comprehensive, unbiased,
and high-quality education.
Since 2016, our network has
grown from reaching 7,500
to more than 3 million
students taught by more
than 30,000 social studies
teachers per semester.*
in all fifty states and internationally. All content is available at no cost to teachers
via our digital platform, which is designed to allow students access to lessons
even in poor bandwidth environments. The platform gives educators real-time
analytics on student learning to help teachers refine lessons and better
understand the progress of individual students.
Individualism: displayed in self-ownership (agency), self-interest, personal growth,
and responsibility
Liberty: displayed through respect for free speech, religious liberty, a free and
independent press, and the protection of property
Egalitarianism: displayed through legal equality, diversity, equal opportunity, and
social and economic mobility
Entrepreneurship: displayed through a celebration of innovation, “second
chances,” and the “pursuit of happiness
Governance: displayed through limited government, checks and balances, the
separation of powers, and federalism
Trade: displayed through appreciation of commerce, gains from trade, value
creation, and an economic way of thinking
Civic Engagement: displayed through voluntary associations, a strong civil society,
active citizenship, and a philanthropic spirit.
In order for a society to thrive, individuals not only act alone, but must also work
together. The following concepts are fundamental to the participation of citizens
in the common good of the community through its institutions:
Poptential content is designed to help students understand, and develop an
affinity for, the values of what we callAmerican principles," a set of concepts
that represents the core principles at the foundation of American civic life. These
concepts are enshrined in key documents such as the Declaration of
Independence, The United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
This combination of concepts is uniquely American. Applied to individuals it
includes:
As Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist #1, it is an open
question whether societies are capable of establishing good
governmentfrom reflection and choice,” or whether we are
doomed to depend upon “accident and force.More than
ever, we need a new generation of young people to take
seriously their responsibility to think independently and to act
constructively. By understanding and evaluating American
Principles, we believe they will be able to take up this
challenge.
Instructors with experience are more comfortable teaching economics and
personal finance, yet teachers with less experience are more comfortable
using simulations during instruction.
Teachers using Poptential from Certell e-books and supporting content feel
they are more effective.
66% of the teachers say that their use of Poptential allows them to create
more interactive and relevant lessons.
50% of the teachers say that their use of Poptential helps them facilitate
greater collaboration opportunities for their students.
In 2022, we commissioned a study by Project Tomorrow, a nationally recognized
research organization, to evaluate general trends among economic educators and
look at the reputation of Certell’s economics curriculum.
The study found that the vast majority of high school students are not financially
literate but respond well to economics and personal finance courses that include
digital tools in their curriculum. According to the study, just 10% of teachers say
that their students are at a level of proficiency higher than basic when beginning
an economics course, and 53% report students at below basic proficiency levels.
This lack of financial literacy among high school students indicates why basic
economics and personal finance courses should be required in high school, but
just 25 states require that students take an economics course to graduate, and
only 15 require personal finance. If students don’t improve their understanding of
economics and finance at the high school level, they may never be exposed to it.
Finding from surveyed teachers include:
The use of popular culture references (98%) and simulations (98%) are considered
especially valuable for conveying key concepts.The most used pop culture
content includes videos, music, TV episodes, and social media.
Other interesting findings of the study include:
As valuable as survey data is to
return on investment, there is
no substitute for direct
measurement of reach and
impact. Certell is at the
forefront of the movement to
create real-time tools to
capture information about how
teachers and students use our
curriculum, its impact on their
learning, and how that learning
shapes their views about
economic freedom and limited
government.
Measuring Impact
Following the release of the
updated application in August,
we began rebuilding the teacher
dashboard, which we’re calling
Engauge™, to take advantage of
our increased data capabilities.
Engauge allows teachers and
administrators to monitor this,
combined with enhanced
communication abilities within
and outside the app, will improve
the teaching experience and
allow businesses and other
organizations to offer their
employees and clients courses
and training.
Teacher Dashboard
Real-Time Analytics and Tracking