Schools in Shelby County, AL Implement Financial Literacy Software

New Financial Education software , TimeMAPS Tutorial, receives rave reviews and is being implemented in all Shelby County,AL High Schools in order to reach and teach the students the importnace of Money, Careers & Personal Finance.

(PRWEB) May 23, 2004 --When the doors open for the 2004-2005 school term, Shelby County high school students will be introduced to a new software program on financial responsibility. Students attending Calera High, Chelsea High, Montevallo High, Oak Mountain High, Pelham High, Shelby County High, Thompson High and Vincent High will explore the many facets of financial decision-making involved in their daily lives. From basic spending to investing and saving for retirement, the new software program "TimeMAPS Tutorial" produced by REMTECH Software Development Group provides a clear concept of personal finance and the dangers of debt. Chapters and lessons include information on Getting a Job, Three Phases of Life, Education vs. Income, Payroll Deductions, Creating a Budget, Credit Card Responsibility, Saving and Investing, Investment Risk, Retirement Accounts, Buying a House, Home Mortgage Factors, Retirement and Social Security vs. Cost-of-Living. The TimeMAPS Tutorial provides a learning environment where students interact with the software to determine how major financial events fit into the context of their lives. The software program will be used to enhance Economics, Business, Family and Consumer Science and Finance curriculums. Over the past two months, 270 sites have been installed in Shelby County public high schools giving teachers the opportunity to work on lesson plans that include the software in their curriculums.

In continued effort to secure funding for programs that measurably improve Shelby County public schools, The Greater Shelby County Education Foundation secured funding for the program from the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Committee. Paul Rogers, Workforce Development Committee Chairman, said "The Chamber committed to fund the TimeMAPS software because we recognize the importance of financial education and informed career planning for all high school students. Students who did not understand the impact of their educational and career preparation choices during high school will not be prepared to be productive workers or to effectively manage their personal finances when they enter the workforce."

The education foundation is solely focused on improving student achievement for all children attending Shelby County public schools. To insure a high level of excellence, the classroom environment must be continually enhanced. Bill Deery, REMTECH Director of Operations, stated, "We're developing technology based educational tools that provide both the teacher and student a greatly enhanced teaching and learning environment. The typical response for a first-time viewer is pure amazement accompanied by 'Our students need this - when can I get it?'" The TimeMAPS tutorial provides students and teachers with an innovative approach to learning, using computer skills, critical thinking, and projects to enhance the learning process.

Carol Bruser
Shelby County Education Foundation