TCA Announces Free Financial Lesson Plans Available to Teachers
PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 22, 2006)… Financial lesson plans, developed by Take Charge America (“TCA”), have been helping teachers nationwide educate elementary children about the true value of money. Now, financial experts are turning to TCA to reach children outside the classroom.
Mike Sullivan, director of education TCA says Americans are falling deeper in debt, partly due to the lack of financial knowledge.
“Take Charge America wants to tackle the root of the problem, not just provide solutions for individuals and families who are already in debt,” said Sullivan. “By educating young children, we are helping them prevent serious financial troubles in the future.”
TCA offers financial lesson plans aimed at elementary school students, which can be downloaded for free from their Web site at: http://www.takechargeamerica.org/educator-resources-and-lesson-plans.
The credit card industry says average household consumer debt in the United States is about $9,000, excluding mortgages. Furthermore, the nation’s 20-somethings have recently earned the title of “Generation Plastic”, for their not-so-savvy use of credit cards. Bankers and teachers, among others, recognize this problem and they are now turning to Take Charge America to help reverse it.
The Wisconsin Bankers Association (“WBA”) approached TCA about offering the lesson plans as part of WBA’s efforts to introduce children to money management skills. The plans are also available on WBA’s Web site: http://www.wisbank.com/products/pep/more_lesson_plans.pdf.
In addition to outreach for young children, TCA has been a leader in developing financial curriculum for high school students. The nationally-renowned financial curriculum presented through Family Economics and Finance Education (FEFE) was developed at Montana State University and sponsored by Take Charge America. The curriculum, received an award from the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) as the nation’s Outstanding Education Program in 2003. It provides teachers and parents with entertaining and age-appropriate lesson plans to tackle this tricky topic. The lesson plans, which have been downloaded and used by teachers in all 50 states, are free. They can be downloaded at www.familyfinance.montana.edu.
If you would like more information on these lesson plans, please call Mike Sullivan, director of education for TCA at 1-800-823-7396.
About Take Charge America
Founded in 1987, Take Charge America, Inc. (TCA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. TCA offers a variety of services including financial education, credit counseling, and debt management. TCA’s programs are utilized by tens of thousands of families and individuals each year. To learn more about TCA or its programs please call 1-800-823-7396 or visit www.takechargeamerica.org.