Wednesday, April 7, 2010

The fifteenth anniversary of the INVEST NORTH DAKOTA TEACHERS ACADEMY will be held July 19-23, 2010 at The University of Mary in Bismarck. Sponsored by the North Dakota Securities Department, the purpose of the Academy is to provide K-12 educators with both the training and the curriculum resources necessary to facilitate the integration of investor education and personal finance into their curricula. The Academy also instills in teachers the confidence to develop their own financial objectives.

We have been providing personal finance education to teachers for 15 years and are extremely pleased that, beginning in the fall of 2010, all North Dakota high schools will make a personal finance course available to high school students due to legislation passed in 2009, stated Diane Kambeitz, Investor Education Coordinator with the North Dakota Securities Department. Invest North Dakota will be a wonderful opportunity for these teachers to take advantage of valuable information, resources and turn-key curriculums in preparation for teaching the course.

More than 1,800 teachers have attended Invest North Dakota since its inception in 1996. The 30-hour course provides teachers the opportunity to obtain 2 graduate credits of continuing education, in addition to all the training and resources.

A $50.00 non-refundable registration fee is required. Register before June 1 and pay only $40.00. All other expenses including, college credit fees, course materials, dormitory lodging and most meals are provided at no additional cost.

Invest North Dakota is a valuable experience for all North Dakota teachers from elementary through high school. Surveys indicate that most young people are not prepared to handle their financial futures. Therefore, it is never too early to start our young people thinking about money and financial planning. We also encourage school administrators to attend and participate in this worthwhile academy, said Kambeitz. What makes this academy so unique is that it provides 'something for everyone' no matter what age level or discipline you teach.

Invest North Dakota is an important step toward teaching our state's future leaders the value of sound financial planning, saving and wise investing.

For more information and a registration form, contact the North Dakota Securities Department at (701) 328-2910 or 1-800-297-5124 or check their web site address at www.ndsecurities.com (investor education link). The deadline for registration is July 9, 2010, and enrollment is limited to 150. Invest North Dakota is funded in part by a grant from the Investor Protection Trust (IPT). The IPT is a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education.