posted by admin on Nov 8

Planning for College should start with a “Reality Check”…

Texas Workforce Commission has a free website program called “Reality Check” which is the coolest tool to add to career classes and summer job training programs – the data is based on Texas occupations and wages but the lesson on budgeting is universal. If the student is going to invest time in additional training after high school they should know what to expect in future income – this tool – Reality Check will help guide them though a financial literacy lesson. It is a great way for students to explore careers based on projected income from different occupations.

Connected to the Reality Check software is “ Socrates“- which gives a lot of information about the occupations – general job descriptions, method of entry, nature of the work, working conditions, employment outlooks in Texas and the Nation, knowledge and skills needed, work activities and training.

Another career planning website is the Department of Education’s College.gov, a new, student-focused web site designed to motivate students to pursue higher education. The site has three main sections: Why go to college, what to do to get there, and how to pay for it.

posted by admin on Nov 3

Attention Non-Profit Shoppers….
Before you buy that software – check out TechSoup. This organization gives great discounts on technology products to non-profits. TechSoup’s on-line store distributes donated and deeply discounted technology products to eligible nonprofits and public libraries. The fees are typically 4 to 20 percent of retail prices. In order to be qualified to receive any donated products, organizations must be able to demonstrate their status as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, registered Canadian charities, or U.S. or Canadian public libraries.

One of the best website for job listings is Craigslist. This website has all types of job categories listed by city. In addition, Craigslist has categories in housing, stuff for sale, free stuff, services and forums. Craigslist has daily updates and is a great source of information for non-profits and individuals.

The Department of Labor put out a resource book that lists private and corporate foundations that provide funds for workforce and economic development programs. This resource listing can be downloaded very easily.

Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy is another place that has a wealth of information for non-profits that may want to learn more about programs and curriculum enrichment strategies that “ensure that basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12 educational experience”. This group has been working to address the many young people “who have failed in the management of their first consumer credit experience due to bad financial management habits”.