NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- High school students may have a long way to go to improve their knowledge of personal finance, but several private and public campaigns are helping kids learn the basics of money management.

We've heard the bad news - that high school seniors continue to perform poorly on personal financial literacy surveys. It's not surprising, especially when so many parents can't stick to a budget or pay off their credit cards. But now the ways to teach kids about money are expanding. Educational experts say that asking older children to help you balance your checkbook or write checks when you pay the bills are among the most effective ways to bring home the concept of how much things cost.

The Young Americans Bank in Denver at www.theyoungamericans.org is tailored to children and has a wide range of classes for young people. "Mutual Funds Saturdays" are recommended for ages 10 and up. It's best to be at least age 12 if you want to take "Starting Your Own Business."

Other offering websites aimed at improving financial literacy for kids include www.practicalmoneyskills.com, www.consumerjungle.org and www.escapefromknab.com.

Marshall Loeb, former editor of Fortune, Money, and The Columbia Journalism Review, writes "Your Dollars" exclusively for CBS.MarketWatch.com.