Our Programs and Impact
The Financial Literacy Journey: Dream Big, Act Boldly, Shape the Future
Our comprehensive approach builds skills progressively, starting with fundamental concepts and advancing to real entrepreneurship. Students read inspiring books like Investing for Kids and How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000, participate in charitable giving projects, and ultimately present business plans to community partners and investors.
Our Six Signature Programs
The Startup Jar
Students save coins throughout the year and use their savings to launch mini-businesses—building saving habits and entrepreneurial thinking.
2025 BANK ON Oakland, CA CRAWL
130 students toured 10 local banks and credit unions, meeting real bankers and learning about saving, credit, and everyday banking.
Stock Market Game Mastery
Students invest $100,000 virtually and consistently outperform the S&P 500 and peers from well-resourced Bay Area schools.
Tiger Tank Young Entrepreneurs Pitch Competition
Students pitch business ideas to community members, building confidence and real-world skills.
Entrepreneurial Fair
Students create and sell their own products, learning business basics through hands-on experience.
Chinatown Street Fair and OaktoberFest
Franklin students ran their own booths at two major West Coast street fairs, invited by the local Chambers of Commerce.
Outstanding Student Success
Oakland’s OUSD students aren’t just making us proud—they’re making waves! Every year, over 800,000 students from across the country compete in the SIFMA National Stock Market Game, each managing a $100,000 virtual portfolio and making real-time decisions on stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
But here’s the real kicker: our students have gone toe-to-toe with teams from elite, higher-resourced Bay Area schools— (the rich kids) and come out on top.
Year after year, they’ve outperformed the S&P 500, clinching first and second place and racking up championship titles. These twelve consecutive wins prove that talent, grit, and heart matter more than fancy resources. Oakland students are showing everyone what’s possible, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s next!
Wesley
• 5th grade student, Oakland, CA • 1st Place winner • The Stock Market Game Spring 2021–2022 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
Mei
• 5th grade student, Oakland, CA • 2nd Place winner • The Stock Market Game Spring 2021–2022 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
Marilena
• 4th grade student, Oakland, CA • 1st Place winner • The Stock Market Game Fall 2022–2023 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
Jeffrey
• 5th grade student, Oakland, CA • 2nd Place winner • The Stock Market Game Fall 2022–2023 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
Armando
• 5th grade student, Oakland, CA • 1st Place winner • The Stock Market Game Spring 2022–2023 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
King
• 4th grade student, Oakland, CA • 3rd Place winner • The Stock Market Game Spring 2022–2023 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
Johan
• 5th grade student, Oakland, CA • 1st Place winner • The Stock Market Game Fall 2023–2024 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
Susan
• 4th grade student, Oakland, CA • 2nd Place winner • The Stock Market Game Fall 2023–2024 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
Johan
• 5th grade student, Oakland, CA • 1st Place winner • The Stock Market Game Spring 2023–2024 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
Mecca
• 5th grade student, Oakland, CA • 2nd Place winner • The Stock Market Game Spring 2023–2024 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
Minh
• 5th grade student, Oakland, CA • 1st Place winner • The Stock Market Game Fall 2024–2025 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
My
• 5th grade student, Oakland, CA • 2nd Place winner • The Stock Market Game Fall 2024–2025 • San Francisco Bay Area 4th/5th Grade Division
