For almost three years, Farmerís State Bank of Calhan has sponsored a financial literacy program in seven local high schools through EverFi, a company based in Washington, D.C. that specializes in bringing critical skills courses to students.The seven schools include Calhan High School in Calhan School District RJ1; Peyton High School in Peyton School District 23 JT; Miami/Yoder Junior-Senior High School in Miami-Yoder JT60; Simla High School in Big Sandy School District 100J; Ellicott Senior High School in Ellicott School District 22; Hanover Junior-Senior High School in Hanover School District 28; and Edison Junior-Senior High School in Edison School District 54JT.Liz Foreman, senior schools manager with EverFi, said, ìFinancial literacy is the knowledge and skills necessary to make sound financial decisions and set yourself up for success, financially.îThe financial literacy program is available to high school students at no cost, and is typically incorporated into the schoolís standard curriculum, she said. ìThe course is nine modules that are about 40 minutes each,î Foreman said. ìIn order to receive a certification from the course, students have to get at least 70 percent on each module. The modules cover banking, saving, budgeting, credit scores, financing higher education, renting versus owning, that type of thing.îForeman said students are given a preparedness test that includes detailed questions on financial issues prior to the course and after; and, on average, students had a 173 percent increase on preparedness scores after they had taken the course.Tom Cole, computer teacher at Peyton High School, has used the program for two years, and it is a huge benefit to his students. ìI have had parents tell me that their student was talking to them about mortgages or investing or stocks,î he said. ìThe program covers all that stuff; everything they need to know about loans, savings, purchasing cars. The program makes that stuff more accessible to the average person.îMike Pettigrew, marketing manager at Farmerís State Bank of Calhan, said students enjoy the learning process the program provides, and the schools the bank has sponsored have high completion rates.ìIt is a great way to make sure students and young adults are educated about all the financial obstacles they will face and be prepared to go out into the world,î he said. ìWe have been successful in growing the program in the schools, and more students are participating in and completing the classes.îForeman said the program fits into Coloradoís financial literacy standards typically taught through economics and mathematics courses. ìWe do this because our founders realized that teachers wanted to teach these critical life skills and did not have the resources to do so.ìFarmerís State Bank is part of the greater movement to make sure students in their community are graduating with skills they can use in life.î
