Educational Programs
Credit-Wise Cats
To train and support a group of student “financial education” ambassadors who conduct workshops and seminars on campus and in the greater Tucson community
The Credit-Wise Cats (named after the University of Arizona Wildcats) is a program comprised of 15 University of Arizona students who provide personal financial education to college students and students in grades K-12 in the greater Tucson community. The CWC educators are extensively trained by the Take Charge America Institute faculty and staff to provide community outreach through presentation of money management workshops that focus on the core topics of spending plans, saving, credit cards, credit reports, paychecks, and the value of education. In addition, the CWC design and implement creative programs that include personal finance competitions in area high schools and middle schools, Family Finance Day.
The mission of the Credit-Wise Cats is to train and support a group of student “financial education” ambassadors who conduct workshops and seminars on campus and in the greater Tucson community.
Learn more from the Credit-Wise Cats website: creditwisecats.org
Family Economics and Financial Education
To provide educators with ready-to-teach curriculum materials free of charge and the skills and confidence to effectively teach personal finance
The national award winning FEFE curriculum materials are designed in a ready-to-teach, activity-based format. The materials are developed through a unique collaboration – an advisory board comprised of middle and high school educators, collegiate educators, industry professionals and the FEFE National Master Educator team of current classroom teachers. Over 100 grade 7-12 lesson plans are available with a semester course recommendation that adheres to state standards. Educators also receive professional update materials via FEFE newsletters and the opportunity to participate in one of FEFE’s interactive, one-of-a-kind state or national training seminars.
Consumer Jungle is an interactive, web-based program that helps high school students become literate, savvy consumers. Consumer Jungle provides engaging and relevant consumer education curricula covering a variety of topics such as credit cards, transportation, living on your own, personal finances, telecommunications, health, and e-commerce fraud. Developed with input from teachers, students, and parents, Consumer Jungle delivers interactive games, activities, and relevant information directly to the home or classroom.
AZ Earn to Learn is a groundbreaking program that prepares high school students for college with financial education and matching funds.
Case Study Competitions
To stimulate awareness of personal finance issues, provide knowledge and encourage the use of practical financial skills for students through classroom lessons and case study competition
The Take Charge America Institute sponsors personal finance case study competitions at both the college level and also for high school and middle schools. From 2003 – 2008, the Institute’s Duel in the Desert involved nearly 1,500 undergraduates from 319 colleges and universities in a series of regional and national competitions. The Institute’s Jr. Duel in the Desert takes the case study competition directly into Tucson-area high schools and middle schools. The Jr. Duel incorporates a 10-week series of personal finance lessons into classrooms to prepare students to compete in a financial case study competition hosted on the University of Arizona campus. Student teams from participating schools apply what they have learned to analyze hypothetical but true-to-life cases of families undergoing financial distress.
