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EECU Program Equips Students With Financial Literacy Tools
More than 470 Fort Worth ISD students are among the nearly 5,000 students participating in EECU’s free digital financial literacy program.
April is Financial Literacy Month, and credit union EECU is celebrating its thousands of student participants throughout 30 North Texas high schools. EECU launched the program last fall.
“Data shows that rigorous financial education delivered in a young person’s development leads to positive financial behaviors,” said Lonnie Nicholson, EECU president and chief financial officer, in a recent statement. “By providing students with knowledge they need to make smart financial decisions, we are investing in the future economic well-being of the communities we serve in North Texas.”
Fort Worth ISD piloted the program with eight high schools last fall and has plans of expanding the program to all high schools the 2018-2019 school year. The program is facilitated though EVERFI, a national online education leader.
The program consists of nine courses with the following topics: savings; banking; payment types; credit scores; financing higher education; renting versus owning; insurance and taxes; consumer protection and investing. Other activities offered through the program instruct students on how to complete a FAFSA application, understand a pay stub or finance a car.
“There is tremendous need for financial education with our youth,” said David Saenz, FWISD’s executive director of college and career readiness. “This financial knowledge can improve the trajectory of these students’ lives.”
Each online course takes an estimated 40 to 50 minutes to complete and is aligned with state and national finance education standards, according to EECU.
Participants take a pre-test and post-test to determine how much they’ve learned. Student progress in the program is tracked and shared with teachers. A student who passes the post-test with a score of 70 or better receives an accreditation. To date, 40 FWISD students have received certification.
High schools interested in participating in the digital financial literacy program are encouraged to contact Barbara Walker, EECU director of community involvement and social responsibility, at 817-882-0472.