In collaboration with state education agencies, two Oklahomacredit unions, Tulsa Teachers and WEOKIE of Oklahoma City,announced Thursday the launch of “Foolproof Oklahoma” a statewideventure to ramp up quality of financial literacy in all Oklahomaschools.

Some 90 Oklahoma high schools have already signed up in thepilot, perhaps a precursor to a broader nationwide venture asadvanced by the Florida-based Foolproof Financial LiteracyInitiative.

“This is the first state-wide project in the country to allowteachers to meet 100% of a state's financial literacy requirementsusing a free, web-driven program,” said FoolProof's founder, WilldeHoo.

Foolproof, based in Melbourne, Fla., is sponsored by 15 statetrade associations and has produced a literacy curriculum endorsedby both the Consumer Federation of America and the NationalAssociation of Consumer Advocates.

“Oklahoma is one of the few states that requires all students tolearn financial literacy skills in order to graduate but thatrequirement didn't come with funding to make the mandate happen,”noted Foolproof in a statement.

Foolproof said its program “provides teachers and administratorsan online financial literacy transcript for each student in thestate.” Thus, students can be given a printed copy of thetranscript or administrators can simply go online and verify thefinancial literacy requirements passed by any student.

“With less teachers, less time, and more students, how canschools meet unfunded mandates and at the same time provide aquality teaching experience?” asked Brent Taylor, president/CEO ofthe $796 million WEOKIE in Oklahoma City. “We think FoolProof'shigh-tech and ethical curriculum can help solve this problem.”

Tim Lyons, president/CEO of the $1 billion Tulsa Teachers asked,“Who wouldn't want to help both teachers and our kids when it comesto financial literacy instruction?” The Foolproof program providesstudents “the truth about products and services so they can makesmart decisions before spending their money.”