SPANAWAY, Wash. — Seniors at Spanaway Lake High School are excited about graduation, but they have questions about money.
"How am I supposed to do my taxes? I don't know anything about insurance! And this program just helped me learn more about it,” Senior Chanel Cruz said.
The program Cruz is talking about is a financial literacy class that Kitsap Credit Union provides to classrooms around the Northwest for free that teaches topics many kids are eager to learn as they prepare to launch. The Washington State Legislature considered a bill this year (HB 1915) that would have made financial education a requirement for gradation, but it died in the Senate just last Friday. Some schools, like Spanaway Lake High School, are finding ways to provide financial education without it being legislated.
"We've done this since 2019 and I think that the biggest benefit for the kids is we have a representative from the credit union that comes into the classroom,” said long-time Spanaway Lake High School business teacher Heidi Ricardo. “They're at that age where they're a little nervous about getting out on their own, but they're also a little excited about getting out on their own, and it's a program that gives them all the basics."
"I was excited because as a senior and someone who’s graduating and needs to learn financial literacy I was thinking this is something I can use outside of high school,” said Ashley Ross, another senior who has taken this class.
All three of the seniors Evening talked to have used what they've learned already.
"Some of the stuff that we did learn, I'm using now, which is really helpful, like the whole taxes portion. I just filed my taxes for the first time, being employed, and this helped a lot,” Senior Jeremy Sosa said.
"So I was able to apply the consumer skills, what to look for in a used car specifically - so I was able to get my first car using that information,” Ashley Ross said.
"I do a lot of budgeting work. Now when I go out I go 'do I actually need this? Is this a need or is this a want?" Cruz said.
All students who take this course receive a "financial wellness certification" when they complete they complete it.
It not only looks good on a resume, it's a first step towards a bright financial future.
Sponsored by Kitsap Credit Union
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