November 17, 2020
Dear NEFE Community,
Financial education has come a long way since the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) launched its first resource in 1984. With so much change in the financial and technological landscape over the past four decades, we understand the importance of adapting to the evolving needs of our field.
To that end, we’ve critically considered where our efforts are most needed. With the development of our 2019-2024 strategic plan, we are placing greater focus on understanding and enhancing the impact of knowledge and behavior influencers, bolstering thoughtful and actionable research, and convening key thought leaders to support a forward-thinking agenda for the field. Our intention for the next year is to transform into an institute that advances high-impact academic research and facilitates collaboration with practitioners, advocates and policymakers.
To successfully devote more of our resources to this kind of leadership, we have made the decision to retire our curriculum programs, including the High School Financial Planning Program® (HSFPP), CashCourse® and Smart About Money, at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.
Read more about the NEFE Strategy:
https://www.nefe.org/initiatives/curriculum-retirement.aspx
Although we are refocusing our work, the core of NEFE’s foundation is not changing. Our drive to support teachers, educators and researchers is still our priority. We are proud of the success our programs have had for more than 35 years, and we celebrate their legacy.
Thank you for all that you have done with us to elevate the importance of high-quality financial education. Our work is only as successful as our community is strong. Here is a message from NEFE President and CEO, Dr. Billy J. Hensley, on how these program closings mark a new strategic future.