Create youth-focused financial planning programs
Early experience with a financial account in conjunction with financial education helps young people to establish lifetime financial habits. In addition, having access to a school credit union and classroom financial education has a positive impact on students’ use of financial institutions.
Collaborate with local schools to bring age-appropriate financial education to students. Consider curriculum that will have immediate and long-term impact on their lives, such as establishing credit and investing for the future.
To get started:
Research programs in your region that are aimed at helping youth create financial savings habits.
Create a training program for staff instruction, partnering with local financial planners and other stakeholders.
Build partnerships with local financial institutions and businesses that can assist with teaching classes or helping to set up in-school credit unions to give students real-world experience.
Best Practices / Innovative Programs
Commonwealth is a national nonprofit building financial security and opportunity for financially vulnerable people through innovation and partnerships to change systems. Their work encompasses research on children's savings accounts.
The JA Finance Park is Junior Achievement’s capstone program for personal financial planning and career exploration. This program, comprising a curriculum and a simulation, helps students in grades 7–12 build a foundation on which they can make wise financial decisions that last a lifetime, including decisions related to income, expenses, savings, and credit.
