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Support from America's credit unions extends
NEFE's High School Financial Literacy training to 5.4 million students
Credit unions committed to instilling responsible financial habits in young people
MADISON, Wis. - In just under a decade, the credit union movement has
helped nearly 5.4 million high school students receive financial
literacy training through its support of the National Endowment for
Financial Education's (NEFE) High School Financial Planning Program
(HSFPP).
Since the initial agreement between the Credit Union National Association and NEFE took effect during the
1999-2000 school year, the America's Credit Union logo has been
prominently displayed on the program's financial planning materials,
which have been distributed to 5,373,000 students nationwide.
CUNA, with
help from Co-op Financial Services, has provided monetary support for
the continued distribution of these free materials.
Additionally, credit unions and leagues have personally worked with NEFE
to bring the HSFPP to more than 600,000 students since the 2000-2001
academic year - the first year CUNA began tracking credit unions'
participation.
"The successful partnership between NEFE and credit unions would not be
possible unless Co-op Financial Services stepped up to the plate and
helped provide the funding needed to get this program into the hands of
more high school students," said Mark Condon, CUNA's senior vice
president of business and consumer publishing, whose department
supervises the partnership with NEFE.
"One of most reliable partners has
been Co-op's President and CEO Stan Hollen, whose belief in the
importance of financial education has never wavered, particularly now
when the need to improve the rate of financial literacy has never been
more obvious."
NEFE developed this free program in 1984 in response to studies
indicating high school students' lack of financial knowledge as they
graduate and move into the "real world."
The HSFPP student guide offers
basic instruction to teenagers about such topics as personal finance
planning, career/work factors and earnings potential, saving and
spending money, investing, using credit wisely, protecting assets and
identity, and obtaining and using financial services. It also teaches
students to develop and maintain a personal spending and savings plan.
The seven-unit program is easily integrated into many standard classroom
subjects.
NEFE offers the program in partnership with CUNA and America's Credit
Unions; the United States Department of Agriculture-Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service; and participating Land-Grant
University Cooperative Extension Services.
For more information about NEFE's HSFPP, visit CUNA''s NEFE Page.