More than 100 educators from across the nation will attend the eighth annual National Financial Literacy Training in Tucson later this month.
The University of Arizona's Family Economics and Financial Education program, part of the Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education and Research, is designed to equip educators with the skills and educational materials to teach a semester-long course on financial literacy.
The program is based in the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences in the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The course, "Take Charge of your Finances," is geared for those who will go on to provide financial education to students, parents, other educators and community members. Michael Staten, director of the Take Charge America Institute, will offer a keynote speech focusing on understanding credit scores. The program runs June 15-18.
Deborah Haynes, a Montana State University associate professor of family and consumer economics, will speak on family economics. Scott Peterson from the Phoenix office of Boston-based Market Platform Dynamics will talk about technology in consumer banking. Michael Sullivan, education director for Take Charge America, will discuss consumer protection issues. And Richard Green, director of the University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate, will talk about today's economy.
Twelve award-winning master teachers also will conduct workshops covering topics including: values, goal setting, needs versus wants, career development, spending plans, paychecks and taxes, saving and investing, housing, transportation, credit and identity protection.
Staten said a 2008 national survey by the Jump$tart Coalition showed that, when quizzed, high school seniors correctly answered less than half of the questions designed to measure financial literacy.
"One look at our current economic crisis tells you that money connects virtually everything we do," Staten said. "A financially literate community is vital in addressing current and future problems."
Nicole Chinadle Wanago
520-6269243