By Brianna Spause
Special Features/Web Editor

The 2012-13 school year has been a successful one for the Neshaminy High School’s Business Department. The department has been granted the use of the nation’s leading Financial Literacy Software company; EverFi. All Finance classes in the department will be using the program, which will reach 168 students across various grade levels.

Sponsored by the First National Bank of Newtown, EverFi was made available to Neshaminy students in January. During class periods, students will partake in an interactive computer program that runs through basics, vocabulary, and applied use of the topic at hand. “As students complete topic driven limits in class, they will be tested in the EverFi software,” Business teacher and administrator of the program in her finance classes, Janet Dougherty said.

Neshaminy consistently ranks top 10 in Financial Literacy across the state of Pennsylvania, and hopes that the administration of this new program will continue to boost those ratings. Topics explored, such as banking, credit, insurance, student loans, mortgages, taxes, stocks, and savings are more than simple textbook topics that require more than textbook learning. Application that plays into the technology age that high school students are so heavily accustomed to promises the department more of a lasting educational experience.

Senior, Megan Kulp demonstrates the attitude of many other students, feeling as though EverFi was a positive addition to the Finance curriculum. “I feel that EverFi is more effective than textbook learning because it allows you to not only read the information, but also visualize it. I feel that it helps me to better retain what I am learning,” Kulp said.

Concepts explored in the program start with a pre-assessment, go through the details of the topic, and conclude with a post-assessment. The program is geared toward student success, so failure of the post-assessment is followed by a review and the opportunity to retest as many times as necessary until the student is successful in passing the unit.

Cartoons and interactive segments make the program more readily understandable toward students, and seemingly more entertaining. “My favorite part about the module is the cartoons and pictures they show you along with the facts and definitions. EverFi makes the material much more interesting,” Kulp said.

As an incentive to do well in the program – besides a grade for the class – is the opportunity to gain credit for their work. “Ultimately students who pass 10 modules will become certified in financial literacy,” Dougherty said. “The program has proven to create lasting effects on community development and brings a valuable mark of distinction on resumes and college applications.”

At the end of the program, “students will manage their personal financial affairs from high school, through college, and onto a full time job,” Doughtery said.

Real life application helps students to excel in classes, because it gives them purpose and incentive to do well. The Business Department hopes that the addition of EverFi will promote a positive change in the work of students, and plans to continue to implement the program in the coming years following the success of the 2012-2013 school year.