State Governmental Affairs

Desjardins Youth Financial Education State Lawmaker Award Overview

Purpose

To formally recognize state lawmakers’ leadership on behalf of youth financial education.

Procedure

State Credit Union Leagues will submit their completed Entry Form and evidentiary materials in a three-ring binder or spiral bound notebook to CUNA State Governmental Affairs by December 15.

Timetable

December 15: League entries due to CUNA State Governmental Affairs.

In December: National judging.

March: CUNA presents award at GAC.

Questions & Answers about the State Lawmakers’ Desjardins Awards

Q: Is only the legislative activity that occurred in a current year eligible to qualify for the award?

A: No judges from CUNA & Affiliates State Credit Union Subcommittee will evaluate relevant activities that took place within a 3-year window of eligibility.

Q: What activities are eligible?

A: State lawmakers may receive an award for involvement in almost any kind of legislative activity that raises awareness and marshals resources on behalf of youth financial literacy.

Q: Does the legislation have to have to be enacted to be eligible?

A: No, however, the further the legislation has made it through the legislative process the more points it will receive in the second part of the scoring criteria. (See below)

Q: Does a lawmaker have to be a state winner to be a candidate for the national award?

A: No. Whether the state credit union league decides to develop a state award is entirely up to each state and will have no effect on the national award.

Q: How does the national Desjardins scoring work for state lawmakers’ entries?

A: The national state lawmaker Desjardins Award will go to the entry that receives the highest number of points based on the type of legislation that is introduced, as well as the commitment of the state lawmaker to youth financial education in his or her state.

For example:

Legislation that requires that all students receive financial education in schools will earn 50 points.

Legislation that requires all schools to offer financial literacy classes as an elective will earn 30 points.

Legislation that requires teachers to take financial education courses to receive accreditation will earn 50 points.

Legislation that establishes a pilot program, task force or study to address youth financial education will earn 20 points.

Legislation that requires state and local governments to develop or provide financial education materials to schools will earn 20 points.

Legislation that promotes the importance of financial literacy in schools will earn 10 points.

The second part of the scoring focuses on the state lawmakers’ commitment to youth financial education and points, ranging from 5 – 50, will be assessed based on:

• Media articles
• Floor statements
• How far the legislation advanced
• Community outreach addressing financial literacy for youth
• Examples of leadership to promote financial education in schools
• Description of lawmaker’s efforts to get the legislation passed.
• Description of on-going efforts to promote financial education in schools.
• Work with local school administrations/regulators to promote financial literacy

See the State Lawmakers Entry Form for more information.

Q: What is the judging fee for state lawmakers’ entries?

A: There is no fee for state lawmakers entries in the Desjardins Award program.

Q: What are the procedures for leagues that wish to submit entries in the national Desjardins Award for state lawmakers program?

A: See the State lawmakers Entry Form.

Q: Who was Alphonse Desjardins?

A: Alphonse Desjardins (1854 – 1920) was a credit union pioneer who was instrumental in forming the Canadian and U.S. credit union movements. Besides helping to found the first credit unions in Canada and the U.S. Desjardins pioneered youth savings clubs and in- school "banks," known as caisses scolaires.

Please direct questions about the State Lawmaker Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award to Nancy DeGrandi at (202) 638-5777 or ndegrandi@cuna.coop.

• See the Guidelines
• See the Entry Form

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