High-Impact High School Financial Literacy Projects
If you’re thinking about adding high school financial literacy projects to your curriculum, you’re in the right place. You’ve discovered a credible source of powerful financial literacy resources including support and information on designing your own financial literacy programs. Browse what we offer, and you’ll be empowered to empower others.
The NFEC helps people increase their own financial literacy and helps you build custom programs to reach groups of any size and background. Our Curriculum Advisory Board develops lesson plans that are customizable to suit your needs and the needs of your audience. Our independence allows us to stay focused on our goal of spreading financial literacy.
Developing a Financial Literacy Project High School Program
Samantha knew that financial literacy changes lives in a powerful way because she experienced it. After high school, she went into debt which took years of discipline and sacrifice to escape. She wished that any type of high school financial literacy projects had been available to her, but they were not.
She felt a deep drive to give other high school students what she did not have. She wanted to develop a financial literacy project high school program but wasn’t sure where to start. Online research led her to the National Financial Educators Council, which provided everything she needed including the structure to get started.
How Well Should Pre-Adults Understand Personal Finance?
The NFEC directed Samantha to start by defining the depth of learning she wished for her students. High school age pre-adults were about to be hit with financial responsibilities, so they needed to have a comfortable understanding of the basics. She wanted her students to walk away with strategic thinking skills, but due to time limitations, she’d be ok with them learning the skills and concepts of sound money management. She would design her high school financial literacy projects to this end.
Presenting Financial Literacy Projects to High Schoolers
With the depth of knowledge goals pinned down, Samantha turned her attention to the best way to deliver the material. She wanted these young adults to take responsibility for themselves, so she decided on an achievement-based, self-paced program. The high school financial literacy projects would be presented by pre-recorded webinars with a forum where they could get live, expert help and direction.
Deciding What Subjects to Teach in a Financial Literacy Project High School Program.
Samantha knew that high school age pre-adults would soon be hit with financial responsibility and they needed to be ready for it. Getting a strong grasp of saving, debt and budgeting is what they all needed. She also wanted to introduce them to the concepts of college loan management and career planning. She would have to allot enough time to the course to meet these goals.
Custom Curriculum Considerations for Pre-Adults to Learn Personal Finance
Samantha was now on to the curriculum design phase. She wanted her high school financial literacy projects to be interactive, engaging and directly relatable to the real world of money that would soon be throughst upon them. To maintain credibility outside of the school system, the course material had to meet core educational standards, with learning principles based on evidence.
A Certified Instructor to Add Credibility and Legitimacy
Credibility would also come from the educator. Even though the financial literacy high school projects would not be presented live, the teacher had to be a NFEC Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI). The instructor would be answering questions in the online forum, so certification was a critical part of the course’s legitimacy. Thanks to the NFEC’s help, Samantha found the perfect educator with the qualifications to be legit and experience to reach high school students and make a difference in their lives.
Results of Samantha’s First High School Financial Literacy Project
Of the 34 students who began the class, 31 of them actually finished. 91% completion was more than she could have hoped for.
She wanted to create a report that showed off her program’s success, to use in expansion efforts and funding requests. The program generated the data she needed for such a report.
Growing the High School Financial Literacy Program
Samantha awarded the students with letters of completion and instructions on how to use it in their job search and college applications. They also got a pdf with additional resources to help them pursue their interests in personal finance.
Upon reflection, Samantha knew that the seed had sprouted, and she wanted it to grow into a strong tree. The possibilities seemed endless as she considered which way to expand her program. Luckily, the NFEC would help guide her.