MADISON, Wis. – The National Youth Involvement Board is hoping a new program will help financial literacy and credit unions take center stage with middle school students. NYIB, CUNA and the Minneapolis-based in-school touring group National Theatre for Children (NTC) have teamed up to offer a new multi-platform, in-school educational program called Googolplex Goes to School. In the works since last December, the program is owned exclusively by NTC. Familiar with NTC's advocacy programs NYIB jumped at the chance to deliver financial literacy lessons via live theater performances. Here is how it works. Credit unions contact NYIB to purchase the program for a school. The troupe then schedules live in-school performances, which are designed to entertain while helping middle school students understand why they should spend less than they earn; the difference between cash and credit; how to prioritize needs and wants; and the importance of forming a savings habit. Each student receives a workbook with pre-and post-show activities, vocabulary words, fun facts and a take-home section designed to include the entire family in the financial literacy experience. Workbooks and teacher guides will include the credit union's logo. Each school will also create a Kidz Credit Union Club with one adult and up to 15 students to run the savings program. Customized credit union signage announcing the Googolplex Goes to School program will be placed throughout the school. In addition to the live events, the turnkey program includes Kidz Credit Union Software Savings program; classroom posters; teachers' guides; student workbooks and Googolplex, CUNA's online youth magazine. Each credit union will have the ability to handpick schools that receive the program or can allow NTC to offer a program to all middle schools in their field of membership. "It is so exciting that whether you are educational-based, SEG-based or community-based this program is right for you," said NYIB Chair LeAnn Achtenberg. "The live events will not only motivate the students and teachers to embrace the curriculum and start a KidzCU savings account but credit unions will have the benefits of free publicity generated by the performances and recognition for supporting education in their communities." A Jump$tart Coalition Personal Finance Survey finds that 68% of high school seniors failed a financial awareness test in 2002, up from 59% who failed in 2000 and 44% who failed in 1997. "This one program will appeal to students' different learning styles," said Achtenberg. "It is also a really good voice for credit unions and everything from the software programs and classroom materials to Googolplex all complement each other and add fun while getting students excited about savings and hopefully becoming good credit union members." Achtenberg says it was a no-brainer to name the program after the popular CUNA online magazine. The program cost for one school is $3,500 or $3,000 for credit unions already enrolled with Googolplex. The buzz already seems to be positive. North Dakota Congressman Earl Pomeroy sent NYIB the following statement: "The Goes to School program is a great way for young people to learn about finances, and I applaud credit unions for their participation in this important financial education program. This program makes financial education fun and provides real life experiences to young people." For more information on the program contact Achtenberg at (763) 569-4000 ext. 814. or via email at [email protected]. [email protected]