Initiated in 2008, the NetWorth program is the result of a partnership between the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office (WVSTO) and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE). The program seeks to ensure that all of the state’s students receive personal finance education and graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to make wise decisions regarding saving, spending, investing, and money management.
West Virginia is one of the first states to implement the recommendations of the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, Taking Ownership of the Future: The National Strategy for Financial Literacy (2006), and the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. NetWorth is being developed to provide a seamless integration by applying the basic skills of math, social studies, and reading/language arts to real-world conditions based on personal finance skills. The initiative promotes the problem-solving and higher order thinking skills which are a focus of the Partnership for 21st Learning.
But there is another important component of financial literacy, and that is the demonstration of responsible behaviors and the understanding of the consequences of one’s choices. NetWorth has incorporated the national counseling academic, career, and personal/social standards in the developmental guidance and parent involvement activities. A team of guidance counselors created a total of four NetWorth LINKS lessons for each grade level K-12. These lessons will be delivered by counselors and/or advisors throughout the year. In addition, other task force members developed a culminating activity for each year engaging students and their parents in financial literacy learning experiences.
The lessons for grades K-5 will be provided by school counselors. The lessons for grades 6-12 will be provided by either school counselors or student advisors as part of the middle school and high school advisor/advisee curriculum. Both classroom teachers and counselors will work together to provide the parent involvement activity each year.
By working toward the same goals, school counselors and classroom teachers will help students achieve their future goals through financial literacy.