Idaho High School Activities Association Executive Director, Ty Jones, and First Federal Bank President and CEO, Jason Meyerhoeffer, have announced the debut of a financial literacy portal for use by students and educators in the State. The ‘Idaho High School Financial Fitness’ portal includes educational modules on saving, budgeting, investing, spending, credit, risk, insurance, and the economy. The featured playlists are intended to give teachers supplemental material and activities, complimenting their current financial literacy curriculum. The portal can be accessed for free via the IHSAA website or through the First Federal Bank website.
“Financial literacy skills are so important for students as they prepare for life after graduation,” stated Jones. “And, although many of our efforts at the IHSAA are focused on leading the State’s extracurricular activities, our goal with this initiative was to impact all high school students.”
“We are proud to be partnering with the IHSAA on this important educational mission,” said Meyerhoeffer. “First Federal is focused on enhancing the financial well-being of individuals and this portal is a great example of that. Financial literacy is pivotal to future success, not just for an individual but for their family and community as well.”
In 2023, the State of Idaho passed House Bill 92 which requires high school students to take one credit of economics and financial literacy in order to graduate. The legislation outlines several core competencies that are needed to fulfill the requirement including learning about the various types of bank accounts, insurance, credit, investments, taxes, financing a college education, building a budget, the influence of money on human behavior, and how to recognize and use modern consumer skills, tools, and practices.
The ‘Idaho High School Financial Fitness’ portal is hosted by Everfi, an international technology company focused on driving social impact through education. Everfi’s work spans over 25,000 schools, and includes collaborations with the NFL, Premier League, and numerous universities. Everfi notes that 89% of Americans believe a lack of financial literacy leads to social issues, and that over half of teenagers are worried about financing their financial futures, including higher education.