First convened in December, 1995, the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy determined that the average student who graduates from high school lacks basic skills in the management of personal financial affairs. Many are unable to balance a checkbook and most simply have no insight into the basic survival principles involved with earning, spending, saving and investing.
Many young people fail in the management of their first consumer credit experience, establish bad financial management habits, and stumble through their lives learning by trial and error. The Coalition´s direct objective is to encourage curriculum enrichment to ensure that basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12 educational experience. The wheels of education do not need to be reinvented, they simply require balance.
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Jump$tart Coalition - 2009 Meeting/Events Schedule
Third Quarter Board Meeting
Board Meeting, Thursday, July 23 Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC. National Board Members only, please. Fourth Quarter Board, Partner, and Committee Meetings
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REALITY CHECK HAS MOVED! Here is the new URL: http://www.jumpstart.org/realitycheck
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The 12 Principles Calendars for 2009 are now Out of Stock!
Unfortunately, an overwhelming response to this offer has depleted the Jump$tart Coalition supply of 12 Principles calendars for this year. We're so glad you liked them! Remember, however, the calendar is still available as a PDF download. Please click on the link below to see a printable version of the calendar in a PDF format. Once again, thanks to Capital One for its support! It is appreciated. The Jump$tart Coalition® has developed twelve personal finance principles for young people to connect to their financial futures. This year, these practical, everyday ideas are sponsored by Capital One®. If followed, these principles can help students stay connected to their financial lives-start today!
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Financial Literacy:
The positive turnaround in financial literacy scores that was first noted in the 2004 survey, continued-albeit slowly-in 2007. Beginning with an average score of 57.3 percent in 1997, scores fell to 51.9 percent in 2000 and 50.2 percent in 2002 before staging a rebound to 52.3 percent in 2004. In 2007, the mean score increased by a tenth of a percent to 52.4 percent. The increase is certainly not overwhelming but somewhat reassuring given that the gains of two years ago appear to be holding. On a more positive note, the proportion failing this exam (a score below 60 percent), decreased from 65.5 percent in 2004 to 62 percent in 2007.
In his preface to the 2007 edition, Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-WY) added:
A life of financial success and security begins with a strong education. Every generation of Americans is introduced to the realities of spending, saving and finance at a younger age than the last. Yet for many years, our nation's financial literacy has not kept pace. Many young people today take jobs with salaries far beyond what their parents earned. They also begin to live a lifestyle they believe fits that income, including cars, boats and luxury vacations. Many realize too late that what their parents have is the result of accumulation over years of hard work. The younger generation discovers their income cannot keep up with their spending, and they fall into debt. In the worst cases, these bad financial practices can eventually lead to broken marriages, families and futures.
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The Coalition produces a quarterly newsletter called the "Jump$tart Update" designed to keep educators informed about personal finance education tools and concepts, sample lesson plans, upcoming events and the activities of the Coalition and member organizations.
Receive a sample copy of the newsletter by calling (202) 466-8604.
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Copyright © 1997-2008 The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. All rights reserved.