Teachers enthusiastic about program

In Spring 2002, Visa surveyed 200 teachers who had requested the Practical Money Skills for Life curriculum kit. At a glance, the survey found:

• 78% of those requesting the Practical Money Skills for Life curriculum gave it an A or B. Only 2% graded the curriculum a C or lower.
• 93% would recommend the program to a friend or colleague.
• 60% suggested that a friend or colleague review it.
• 51% used the curriculum kit as a teaching tool in a formal classroom setting.
• A majority (58%) of those who used the Practical Money Skills curriculum in their formal instruction used it to supplement material they already had.
• The most popular lessons are: (a) “About Credit”, (b) “Banking Services”, (c) “Credit Card”. “Making Decisions”, “Making Money”, and “Living on Your Own” are also popular.

Teachers attending the July 2001 National Education Association's annual convention reviewed this Website and overwhelmingly responded.
99.1% of the 555 attendants who reviewed the site said they approve of the Practical Money Skills for Life program.

• 98% of teachers would recommend this website to educators.
• Overall, 94% of the teachers gave the program a “B” or better.
• A majority of teachers gave the content A's for:
  • Including the Website's content in both English and Spanish.
• Providing a resource to order all educational materials on this Website, free of charge.
• Donating free computer labs to high schools in need.
• Including a glossary of banking and financial terms.
• Providing online financial calculators.
• Offering detailed lesson plans, for preschool-to-12th grade.
• Incorporating age-appropriate interactive games.
• Creating a parent resource center.
• Offering an interactive quiz show.
• Not prominently displaying the Visa logo

Teacher Quotes:

"I am a high school teacher and one of the courses I teach is Consumer Education. While we offer a textbook for the course, I have found your materials to be very valuable. I also teach a Consumer Education course for special needs students and I was thrilled to see that you offer the curriculum tailored to special needs students. I would like to thank you for all your efforts in putting together your Practical Money Skills for Life program. It is an excellent program and your hard work is being used in my classes."
- Joe Ehlers, Moline High School, Moline, IL

"I think your Practical Money Skills resources are a life-saver for adult educators and education centers with limited funds. I especially like the content. Lessons are easy to read, easy to understand, and make sense. THANK YOU!"
– Heidi Pacheco, CHEERS Learning Center, Center, CO

"I teach Consumer Education at Romeoville High School and just wanted to thank you for developing such a wonderful web site. You certainly have developed a lot of useful materials for everyone involved! Kudos to you!!"
– Linda Medema, Romeoville High School, Romeoville, IL

"A great learning tool! Students are made aware of the financial responsibilities they will have after high school."
– Pamela Gauthier, Dolgeville Central School, NY

"Equipping our students with a higher level of financial literacy is vital to the future of our society. Practical Money Skills for Life is an excellent tool to assist with this effort."
- Martha Cubbage, Nevada Regional Technical Center, Nevada, MO

"The Practical Money Skills for Life site is a perfect resource for enhancing and supporting the Personal Financial curriculum at our school."
- Cindy Talley, Fillmore Central High, Geneva, NE

"This curriculum has helped me reach and enlighten many young minds stuck in the darkness of the poverty cycle."
- Trent Kaufman, Dublin High School

"Excellent materials, Web sites, ideas, overheads, top drawer teaching aids and I will use it again next year!"
- Kathryn Goerig, Battery Creek High School, Beaufort, SC

"The Practical Money Skills Challenge has enhanced my Academy curriculum and allowed my students to measure their understanding in a fun and innovative format."
- William J. Daniel III, Boone High School, Orlando, FL

"This program is an awesome way to teach credit to kids!"
- Deb Moore, Sunrise Mtn. High School, Peoria, AZ

"Becoming financially literate is so important today; therefore, I believe a course in Practical Money Skills should be a required course for all students in Middle/Junior/High School."
- Gladys Fitzhugh-Pemberton, Theodore Roosevelt High School, Washington, DC

"Participating in the Practical Money Skills Challenge is an excellent way to open the mystery of the financial world for teenagers – a truly great experience!"
- Alexis Mimi Szutz, Chattahoochee High School, Alpharetta, GA

"Participating in the Educator Challenge and using the on-line Practical Money Skills Curriculum (with tests, lesson plans, links, simulations, valuable activities, new and innovative teaching methods, etc.) provides ongoing resources and valuable professional development tools that enhance my secondary level business courses."
- Jean F. Churchill, Oliver Ames High School, North Easton, MA

"It's great curriculum, it's really user friendly and as a teacher I don't often have a lot of time to research and find materials."
- Rita Bennett

"In the past we'd just give students a diploma and a transcript - no longer - we're preparing you to be a good citizen and this practical money management program is excellent."
- Charles Cwierko

"The site's fantastic, I really enjoy it. The interactivity is helpful and all of the materials being available online for a teacher is outstanding."
- Dave Bradley

"It's great! It has great teacher resources. I can't wait to get my high school kids started on using it…"
- Mary Eckert