When the recession hit in 2008, people became more aware of their financial situations than ever before.
Job security and income stability was on almost everyone’s mind.
Although most economists agree that the crisis is over, people are still facing crippling amounts of debt and upside-down mortgages.
Many adults took a crash course in finances during the Great Recession, but their children are still not aware of basics of personal finances.
While kids are sent off to school, with parents confident they’re learning the basic skills to survive in the world – that may not necessarily be the case when it comes to finances.
Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada offers a financial education program for middle school students to help fill in those learning gaps. The program is made up of 12 lessons taught in the classroom.
"The students are going to learn all about budgeting, savings, income, expenses, retirement, taxes all these great personal finance issues that they need for their future," Jodi Manzella with Junior Achievement told KNPR's State of Nevada.
The program culminates at Junior Achievement's Finance Park where students become adults for a day and put what they've learned into action.
"Within four and half hours, they will have eye-opening experiences where they are given an identity... all of these factors that they need to create a one month balanced budget," Manzella explained.
Jodi Manzella, COO, Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada; Noe Velasco, 8th grade student, JD Middle School