High School Financial Planning Program

“All across the nation financial education for a new generation” - The High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP)/National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)

Do you know that:

30% of high school students know how credit card interest and fees work? (HSFPP Launch Training, March 2007)
66% think using a check cashing service is good? (HSFPP Launch Training, March 2007)
31% owe money to a person or company? (HSFPP Launch Training, March 2007)
48% know how to use a credit card? (HSFPP Launch Training, March 2007)
55% get money from their parents, 43% from gifts, 28% from odd jobs, 25% from part-time jobs, 21% from full-time jobs and 2% from their own businesses? (Teen Research, Inc.)
64% of teens 18-19 years old have checking accounts? (Teen Research, Inc.)
On average, American teen spending exceeded $169 billion in one
year? (Teen Research, Inc.)

With their spending power, the uncertainty of Social Security and the demise of pensions, teens need guidance in managing their money and preparing for the future. They need “just the facts, ma’am” so they can make wise financial choices. The FREE, updated High School Financial Planning Program can help teens in an inviting way. This proven, turnkey program for 11th and 12th grade students offers instructor and student guides, posters, revamped Web site and online materials ordering.

The HSFPP is a joint project of the National Endowment for Financial Education, the Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service, Credit Union National Association and America’s Credit Unions. The Junior Achievement®, Junior ROTC and Jump Start® support the HSFPP also.

The flexible and noncommercial HSFPP covers financial planning, budgeting, investing, credit, keeping money safe and secure, insurance and career choices and lifestyles in seven units. All units, written on an 8th grade reading level and tied in with Florida’s Sunshine State Standards, have lesson plans, traditional and alternative assessments and complementary activities for teachers to use. Students learn through the four-phase learning process (inquire, gather, process and apply), competency-based learning and continuous learning. Students can access the units via computer or hard copies. The HSFPP Web site has pages for students, parents and instructors.

The HSFPP can be used with middle-school, 9th and 10th grade students, too, as well as homeschoolers; 4-H, Boys and Girls clubs; Girl and Boy Scouts, Sunday schools, private schools, adult basic education, Job Corps, YMCA and after-school programs.

All orders must be made online with postage and handling at no charge. Spanish language material will be made available later this year via the HSFPP website.

Susan W. Williams, MA APR, (greenfrg@ufl.edu; 352-846-1000 ext. 238), Assistant In Financial and Environmental Issues in FYCS, is Florida’s HSFPP representative and is available to conduct training sessions for teachers volunteers, homeschoolers and other groups particularly in counties that do not have trained extension agents.

Extension agents in Clay, Wakulla, Okaloosa, Jackson, Lake City, Bradford, Baker, Columbia, Lee, Martin, Duval,/Jacksonville, Broward, Leon, Brevard, Santa Rosa, Broward, Suwannee, Osceola, Marion, Levy, Seminole, Orange, Hendry and Okeechobee counties have been trained and will deliver the HSFPP in these areas. FAMU in Tallahassee can do the same in its target areas. Florida’s Credit Union representative is Janette McElwain, Training Director, Suncoast Teachers Federal Credit Union; janette.mcelwain@suncoastfcu.org.