NCCEP/GEAR UP Financial Education Curriculum

With the economy in a significant slow-down, understanding how to manage money has never been more important to Americans. Fortunately for GEAR UP students, the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) and the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) have partnered since 2006 to educate them on financial literacy issues. Through this partnership, NEFE has developed websites for GEAR UP students in middle and high school that explain important financial concepts. The websites are fully interactive with information, quizzes, savings calculators, and exercises to help students understand the importance of being knowledgeable about their finances. A Facilitator's Guide is available that may be used in conjunction with the high school website to lead a classroom or after-school course on financial literacy. A hard copy of the guide is currently available through NEFE and will be posted online this spring.

"Financial literacy is an important life skill, and yet only three states require that high schools offer a one-semester course. NCCEP is glad to provide these tools to supplement this important aspect of a GEAR UP student's education," says Betty Paugh Ortíz, Vice President of NCCEP.

NCCEP and NEFE are currently working on a pre-college website that will provide information relevant to students who are applying to or are already in college. This site will feature information on financial aid, choosing a place to live, how to manage a household budget, and other topics essential to college students.

You don't have to be part of GEAR UP to benefit from the information and tools available on these sites. The middle and high school websites are available to everyone interested in financial literacy at www.gearup-moneyskills.org.