MADISON, WI – By March 31, 2001, more than 28,000 students had been enrolled in the NEFE^® High School Financial Planning Program^® (HSFPP) through credit union efforts in the 2000-2001 school year. Beyond that, credit unions have reached 88 percent of the goal of getting 400 new schools to participate in the program since August 2000.

The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) offers the program in partnership with the Credit Union National Association, Inc. (CUNA) and the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, and participating land-grant university cooperative extension services.

"Organized credit union support has had a significant impact in increasing usage of the High School Financial Planning Program," says CUNA President and CEO Daniel A. Mica, noting that 22 leagues have hosted training sessions for credit union people who are going to team-teach the HSFPP materials with classroom teachers. "We’re pleased with both credit union and league acceptance and involvement with the initiative. Our goals are well within reach for this year."

Other notable numbers for the credit union youth financial literacy initiative include:

• Credit-union-sponsored school contacts have averaged 80 program workbooks ordered. Teacher-initiated orders have averaged 71 workbooks.
• Credit union contacts have added, on average, 44 new schools to the program per month in 2001.
• Discounting participation in the program by Army JROTC students, credit unions have brought in 12 percent of the students using HSFPP in the current school year (versus nine percent when JROTC is factored in).

"The Army JROTC program has adopted the HSFPP nationwide, so its participation is different from that of individual teachers or credit union volunteers," says Philip Heckman, CUNA’s director of youth outreach. "Comparing credit-union-sponsored numbers to non-JROTC numbers gives a better picture of credit unions' success in expanding the HSFPP."

Heckman adds that he is pleased that the numbers reflect the excellent sales job credit union people do in their contacts with teachers and school officials. "The fact that credit union contacts result in workbook orders that are 13 percent larger tells me that credit union advocates are doing a good job of 'selling’ the program to schools," he says.

For more information on the HSFPP and how to become involved, visit CUNA’s Web site at www.cuna.org, and click on "Youth Education," or call 1-800-356-9655, ext. 4088.