The 2009-10 LifeSmarts competition season, which tests high school students on consumer issues such as personal finance, technology and consumer rights, started Monday in Kentucky.

LifeSmarts involves online quizzes and live competitions. Last year, Louisville's Dupont Manual High School team represented Kentucky at the national championship in St. Louis, placing fifth among 30 teams.

Schools that want to participate in LifeSmarts can register online at www.lifesmarts.org. The site also offers resources for teachers, coaches and students.

"Learning smart shopping skills, making good economic decisions and avoiding the pitfalls of overextending yourself with credit are lifelong lessons that these students can learn at an early age, and LifeSmarts is a fun way to learn and reinforce these skills," said Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, whose office is among the agencies sponsoring LifeSmarts.