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WATERVILLE — The start of a new school year is under way, and New Dimensions Federal Credit Union will be a part of the financial education students receives this year.
Employees have prepared new lesson plans, for students in kindergarten through senior year, that will be presented as they visit classrooms throughout Kennebec and Somerset counties.
The credit union’s financial director of education recently attended a boot camp with teachers and educators from the Central Maine region learning fun, innovative ways to teach personal finance to high school students in a way they can understand and relate into their current situations. New Dimension’s mission is to find ways that work for all ages, while preparing those just beginning to face the challenges that come with adulthood.
The boot camp was conducted by NextGen Personal Finance, a non-profit organization connecting educators with free resources, professional development and advocacy tools in order to equip students with the knowledge and skills to lead financially successful and fulfilling lives. NextGen representatives shared results from a nationwide survey of 13 million students across 11,000 high schools to find out how many students had access to financial education in America today. Sadly, the results showed only one in six students received financial education; one in 12 for low-income schools; and only five states in the U.S. have personal finance coursework as a statewide mandate — Maine was not one of them.
The reality for Maine students is that less than 10 percent have a personal finance graduation requirement. Additionally, several studies showed the younger the students were when introduced to budgeting techniques and good credit habits, the more likely they were to become financially secure adults able to avoid costly mistakes and life-long consequences.
This school year, New Dimensions encourages you to take the time to ask your child’s guidance counselor, teachers or school administrators if personal finance classes are available to your child. If he/she is not able to access adequate financial education, or if you are an educator in Kennebec or Somerset counties and would like some assistance in bringing energetic and customizable lessons to your classroom, contact Tanya Verzoni, director of financial education. As part of its mission, New Dimensions is committed to educating its members with personal finance guidance and best practices. Class offerings include the importance of saving money, needs versus wants, budgeting basics, understanding credit, how to buy a car and many other topics that would help students further their education. Also, to register for the credit union’s monthly newsletter, visit www.newdimensionsfcu.com and click on the registration link at the bottom of the home page. New Dimension’s newsletter and social media pages will keep visitors informed of free evening seminars open to credit union members and non-members alike, tackling topics such as budgeting, understanding credit, first-time homebuyer tips, home energy savings and more.
It’s never too early, or too late, to receive solid financial advice. Contact Verzoni at 207-872-2771 or at tverzoni@newdimensionsfcu.com. New Dimensions is committed to helping you have a profitable future.
