State Treasurer John Perdue, representatives from the West Virginia University Extension Service and the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) were in Morgantown on Tuesday to promote a new financial education initiative for West Virginia high school students.

The High School Financial Planning Program is designed to teach high school students the basic skills of personal finance. NEFE , a Colorado-based group developed the curriculum and provides it to schools at no charge.

“I think this program will help to better prepare high school students for their financial futures,”said Treasurer Perdue.”We are pleased to be a part of this partnership that brings an innovative program to the state’s high schools.

“This program represents an ongoing commitment by the WVU Extension Service to help deliver sound educational programming to the people of West Virginia,”said Dr. Larry Cote, WVU ’s associate provost for Extension and Public Service.”The financial training received through this program will help the state’s future leaders be more responsible citizens.”

The High School Financial Planning Program is the latest phase in State Treasurer Perdue’s financial education initiatives. The West Virginia Bank at School program, in its second year of operation, partners grade schools with local financial institutions to teach fourth and fifth graders the basics of money management. The program is now used in more than 100 schools throughout all 55 counties.

“As the state treasurer, I feel it is one of my responsibilities to help our children better understand financial matters,”said Perdue.”I think these programs will pay off down the road. We hope to expand the financial planning series in the future.”

The statewide effort is being coordinated by four county extension agents: Linda Bull, Lewis County; Linda Kay Davis, Greenbrier County; Judith Bragg, Raleigh County; and Linda Waybright, Jackson County; along with Mike Browning, deputy treasurer; Linda Hawkins, special assistant in the Treasurer’s Office and representatives from NEFE . The Treasurer’s Office is also working with the West Virginia Department of Education to more effectively implement this program.

West Virginia high school teachers will have the opportunity to learn about the program at five training sessions scheduled in December at locations around the state. The training session dates and sites are: today, Dec. 5, Morgantown, Jerry West Lounge, WVU Coliseum; Dec. 6, Romney, WV School for the Deaf and Blind; Dec. 11, Beckley, Mine Safety and Health Administration office; Dec. 12, Summersville, Nicholas County Park; and Dec. 14, Huntington, Cabell County Vocational-Technical Center.

For more information on this program, contact Linda Hawkins of the WV State Treasurer’s Office at 1-800-422-7498, visithttp://www.wvtreasury.com, or contact Ann Bailey Berry, Director of Communications, WVU Extension Service, at 293-4221, ext. 3416.