Topics Education Principal Discusses NC Financial Literacy Rates On Locally-Produced Television Show

Bruce Nofsinger Talks Money with Mike Collins

CHARLOTTE, NC – Charlotte Now with Mike Collins, the only locally-produced primetime public affairs program on commercial television in the Charlotte market, recently invited Bruce Nofsinger, co-founder of Topics Education, to the show to discuss financial literacy for young people. On July 22, 2007, the show designed to explore local issues of public importance interviewed Bruce about a recent financial literacy survey of NC 7th graders. Topics Education developed the online survey on behalf of the Department of the State Treasurer and other public and private partners.

“The need for greater financial literacy is huge, and it begins with children. The survey showed us that we have a long way to go,” Bruce said. “I am glad to see that the Charlotte area is responding to these issues by discussing topics like this in our local media. I hope that by appearing on Charlotte Now, I can help kick-start conversations on financial literacy in a way that pushes us to do something about the problem.”

On Charlotte Now with Mike Collins, Bruce shared these survey results with the public: “Of the 3,000 students that were surveyed, they only got about half of the questions right, and some of what they got wrong was disturbing.” The show also included a chance for viewers to find out how much they know about money by trying to answer some of the questions that were part of the survey. How disturbing those results were is unknown!

About the survey:
Topics Education worked with the Department of the State Treasurer and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to create the age-appropriate survey that seventh graders at 20 schools across the state took online. The survey focused on topics such as:

• debit cards
• transaction fees
• loans
• credit cards
• banking accounts
• purchase decisions

Once the surveys were completed and the data collected, Topics Education then created two reports for the Department of the State Treasurer to share the results with legislative and educational policymakers. Beginning in the 2007-08 school year, personal financial education will be a requirement for high schools, and the reports should convince stakeholders throughout the state that North Carolina is moving in the right direction but there is a long way to go.

Charlotte Now with Mike Collins airs Sunday nights at 10:35pm on WJZY CW46. To see the show’s archives, view this episode and take the viewer quiz about finances, please visit www.wjzy.com.

About Topics Education
Founded in 1995, Topics Education is a values-led education outreach and communications company based in Charlotte, NC. We design strategies and programs for organizations that want to support education while achieving measurable results. We help our clients help education through three core service areas, including: Youth Education Outreach Programs, Education Advocacy and Communications, and Print and New Media Curriculum. Topics Education is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. For more information, visit www.topicseducation.com.