This October, we visited Archbishop Borders School to administer the SIF Pre-Test, marking the official start of a new program year!

At Stocks in the Future, we begin each year with pre-tests in reading, math, and financial literacy. These assessments help us understand student’s strengths and areas for growth so we can adjust our approach and reinforce key principles where needed throughout the program.

Later in the year, students will take a post-test to measure their progress and celebrate how far they’ve come!

By tracking this data, we ensure that every classroom and every student builds the skills and confidence needed for lifelong financial success.

Stocks in the Future is proud to highlight the partnership behind its new student stock portfolio app, developed by Ruby for Good, a volunteer driven tech organization that supports nonprofits. At the center of the project is Polly, an engineering manager and former educator whose experience and passion have shaped this work.

Polly spent over fifteen years teaching, including in Prince George’s County, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges educators face and the importance of meaningful learning opportunities. When she learned that SIF needed to rebuild its app, she immediately recognized the potential to support financial literacy in her community. She and her co-lead are local to Annapolis and Baltimore. As Polly explained, “This isn’t some distant tech team; we’re neighbors who are genuinely invested in seeing Maryland organizations and students thrive.”

One of the biggest challenges wasn’t technical but strategic. Polly guided the team to slow down and understand SIF’s real needs, questioning assumptions and rethinking processes with SIF’s Executive Director, Rebecca Lange-Thernes. The team focused on building a platform that is reliable, sustainable, and easy for educators to use. Administrative tools were designed with simplicity in mind, and strong testing and clean code ensure a smooth experience for teachers and students. “We want every student, teacher, and admin to have the best possible experience,” Polly said.

Ruby for Good’s open-source approach allows the code to be strengthened by a broad volunteer community while keeping all student and teacher data fully protected. “Open code, never open data,” Polly emphasized. The project has already engaged 75 volunteers, ensuring the app remains secure and sustainable longterm. 

A particularly inspiring moment came during Ruby for Good’s fall build event in Sharpsburg. Volunteers worked intensively while Rebecca shared stories about SIF students. Polly recalled, “You could see it click for our volunteers. Suddenly it wasn’t just code, it was a tool that could genuinely change a young person’s financial future.”

Polly emphasized the team’s long-term commitment: “This is a partnership, not a handoff. We are here for the long term.” Thanks to this collaboration, SIF students will soon have access to a stronger, more accessible, and sustainable tool to support their financial futures, illustrating the power of mission, community, and talent coming together.