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Who can participate in the LifeSmarts competition?
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Any teenager in grades 9-12 in any US state, the District of Columbia, US military high schools, and the US territories may participate. Each player MUST have an adult coach who signs on first. Teens may play from any computer with Internet access. This may be at home, at school, at a library or a business location. Each player plays as an individual. The individuals with the highest scores will be identified on each team and become eligible for an in-person team.
Players and teams may come from schools, families, 4H, FCCLA, neighborhoods, workplaces, community centers, youth groups, home schools, and any other similar source. |
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What does the competition cover?
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Each player will be tested in the areas of personal finance, health, safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities. LifeSmarts covers information that consumers need to know to function in today's and tomorrow's complex marketplace. |
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How do I start?
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For step-by-step directions for getting started, click here.
Each player and team must have an adult coach (18 years or older) and that coach must register for the program before any team member can play. The coach will be given a team code. Each player on the team must use the team's pass code. Each state has a designated time during which the competition will take place. The time frame varies for every state, but generally runs from September to January or February. Please follow the dates for your state. The designated time will not be extended and players must complete the competitions within the designated time period for their state.
Any number of players may register under one coach; players who complete all three levels of online competition are eligible to make up the team that advances to an in-person competition. Each student must register under his or her own name and take the tests independently. Coaches may register more than one team. Each time a coach registers a new team, a new pass code will be provided. However, a student may play on only one team.
Each player will go through a series of three tests that will quiz their consumer awareness. Each test will be scored immediately and the player can move to the next one, or take a break between the tests. Students can expect the quizzes to get more difficult as they progress.
The top players from each team will be identified and the coach will be notified. In states with a state program, the top teams will be invited to an in-person state competition. Any person traveling to a state competition will be required to sign a permission and release form. In states without a state coordinator, the top team may be invited directly to the national competition. In these states, if a playoff is needed, it will be conducted on the Internet.
It is recommended that five students comprise an in-person team, but each team must have a minimum of four players in order to compete in the state or national competition.
The state champion team will be eligible to represent their state at the National LifeSmarts competition April 21-24, 2007, in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
The state and national competitions consist of a face-to-face competition. This three-part challenge includes:
- Round 1 - Individual Questions
- Round 2 - Team Questions
- Round 3 - Challenge Round
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Purpose
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By using the Internet to search for consumer issues, teenagers will find answers to today's consumer problems. Consumer education empowers individuals to take responsibility for their decisions. Lack of consumer education often makes teenagers victims of fraud. LifeSmarts helps prepare teens for the consumer decisions that will be made throughout their lives.
For more information about LifeSmarts, check additional sections of this site. Or contact the National Consumers League at lifesmarts@nclnet.org or phone 202-835-3323. |
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