The Natomas Unified School District has partnered with the SAFE Credit Union in offering students a financial literacy course. The course, offered over a span of six classes after school, taught students the basics of financial literacy. “They understood more about FICO scores and what it looks like to build up your credit score, as well as, what to look at when it comes to your credit report, and how to be a responsible borrower,” Mariam Dougherty, a Financial Wellness Educator with SAFE Credit Union, said.
Teaching students about financial solvency before they graduate from high school is a critical step to better prepare them to navigate borrowing money for college, to know how loans work, and to understand how negative credit scores can impact multiple aspects of your life. “I’m hoping to get some help from my Dad to set up a good credit account and definitely make some good decisions on what will help me most in my future especially with college, since I do want to go for a very high degree,” Armando, a student said.
Dougherty also taught the students the power of empathy in the workplace, being advocates for themselves, and the difference between savings and checking accounts. “Knowing what to expect when you become an adult is always a really good way of preparing students to not take the first credit card that is offered to them and really understand what it means to be a responsible borrower,” Dougherty said.
