Wisconsin CUL, CUs Building a "Financial Literacy" Corps

PEWAUKEE, Wis. -The Wisconsin Credit Union League is hoping a series of financial workshops will help local students raise their money management IQ. The League is sponsoring three week-long workshops designed to help teachers better educate their students about money matters. Studies have shown that less than 25% of parents discuss money matters with their kids – so teachers here have decided to step in to offer financial lessons. The National Institute of Financial and Economic Literacy kicked off June 20 at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. Some 20 credit unions from around the state are sponsoring 25 local teachers to attend the sessions. “It is important that we teach these critical life skills to our youth,” said Wisconsin CUL President/CEO Brett Thompson. “We are pleased that we are in a position to provide teachers with the resources that will allow them to bring personal finance basics into the classroom.” Wisconsin credit unions rank among the highest in the nation when it comes to the number of credit unions working with schools to operate in-school, youth-run branches. Credit union staffers also present financial lessons in the classroom. This marks the fifth year the League has sponsored the Institute, which is organized by the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.