November 8, 2001

North Dakota Students Participate in NEFE High School Financial Planning Program

North Dakota high school students are learning about saving, investing and personal money management in a dynamic and newly revised program sponsored by the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

" An Like the rest of the country, North Dakota has a lot of students who are entering the work force or going on to college without the understanding of basic financial management concepts," says Debra Pankow NDSU Extension family economics specialist. "Issues such as the real cost of credit, taxes, and personal finances are not understood by students graduating from high school."

There are three main purposes for the program says Pankow. " The first step is to learn the financial planning process, second, it gives the students the opportunity to apply the process through stimulating exercise and assignments, and third, it enables them to take control of their personal finances."

An evaluation of a sample taken from more than 800 students from 19 North Dakota schools that participated in the program last year showed that most students said they knew more about the importance of saving and investing to secure their financial future after participating in the program. Students said after taking the course they were better able to manage their personal finances.

A new curriculum came out this past summer which is more user friendly and more hands on. According to Pankow, "There are lessons plans in which students can learn through experience to actually plan, carry out, and relate the learning back to their own lives and their financial issues."

The NEFE High School Financial Planning Program ® (HSFPP), was initiated in 1984 as a public service to increase the financial literacy of America’s youth. The High School Program is offered by NEFE in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture-Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service and participating Land-Grant University Cooperative Extension Services: and with the Credit Union National Association, Inc., and Affiliates.

North Dakota schools who are participating in the HSFPP so far this year included: Bismarck (Bismarck High School, Century High School, Horizon Middle School); Bisbee (Bisbee-England High School); Cando (Cando Public High School); Dunseith (Dunseith High School); Elgin (Elgin-New Leipzig High School); Fargo (Fargo North High School, Ben Franklin Junior High School); Hankinson (Hankinson High School); Harvey (Harvey High School); Kenmare (Kenmare High School); Kensal (Kensal High School); New Town (New Town High School); Hunter (Northern Cass High School); Velva (Velva Public High School);Washburn (Washburn Public High School) Williston (Trinity Christian High School).

Educators who are interested in the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program curriculum, can contact their local Extension Agent or contact Debra Pankow North Dakota State University Extension family economics specialist at 701-231-8593 for more details.

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Source: Debra Pankow, (701)231-8593, dpankow@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: JJ Camarillo, (701) 231-8371, Camarillo45@Hotmail.com