Indiana State University Newsroom

WHAT: Indiana State University's Networks Financial Institute (NFI) is hitting the road with its new mobile financial literacy classroom. "The Kids Count on the Money Bus" or the "Money Bus," for short, is a visual, hands-on way of exposing young students (particularly in grades 3 to 5) to financial concepts, such as saving or spending wisely, managing financial accounts, using credit and debit cards, and much more. The bus - a 40-foot passenger coach -- has 13 hands-on exhibits which make learning about money fun and exciting. (see photo attached)

WHEN: Thursday, May 18, 2006; from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; some of the morning of Friday, May 19.

WHERE: Paul I Miller Elementary School, 2251 Sloan Ave, Indianapolis (Phone: (317) 226-4114 or (317) 226-3511)

WHO: Representatives of Indiana State University's Networks Financial Institute, an education and outreach initiative of Indiana State University's College of Business, and Miller Elementary School students.

WHY: Based on research conducted by NFI, it was determined that 46 percent of the teachers polled do not teach financial literacy at the kindergarten through grade 5 level, and 54 percent do not teach financial literacy at all. This situation exists despite the fact that 80 percent of K-12 teachers polled feel it is important to teach financial literacy in their classrooms. In addition, 78 percent of teachers polled said they lacked the time to teach financial literacy, while 71 percent said that because it?s not required by the state, they don?t teach it. Seventy-five percent said they would teach more about financial literacy if there were academic standards directly relating to it. Armed with this information, NFI turned its attention to tapping into the desire and energy that most Indiana teachers have for teaching financial literacy, in part, by addressing the specific barriers they face - time, resources and clear standards.

FOR MORE INFO: For more information about the "Kids Count on the Money Bus" project or to request a visit to your school, contact David Godsted, NFI?s director of outreach, toll free at 1-800-603-7113 or (317) 536-0281, Ext. 709 or at david.godsted@isunetworks.org. You may also visit ISU?s Networks Financial Institute Web site at www.isunetworks.org.

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Mb>MEDIA CONTACT AND WRITER: Maria Greninger, associate director, Communications & Marketing, Indiana State University, (812) 237-4357 or m-greninger@indstate.edu.