SPI Addresses Student Financial Literacy Benefits (2024)

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SPI Addresses Student Financial Literacy Benefits (1)

California Department of Education
News Release

California Department of Education
News Release

Contact: Communications
E-mail: communications@cde.ca.gov
Phone: 916-319-0818

BERKELEY—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond met with students at Berkeley High School today to discuss the benefits of financial literacy and personal finance courses. Superintendent Thurmond is working to make sure elective classes like these are taught at all California high schools with his financial literacy bill, Assembly Bill 984 (McCarty), co-sponsored with California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, which would make personal finance and financial literacy a high school graduation requirement.

Students spoke about what they have learned in the class and how it has helped them make financial decisions. They also shared their support for making personal finance courses available to all high school students.

“Young Californians are entering the workforce and higher education with very little understanding of financial literacy. This is deeply concerning, since students with higher financial literacy are more likely to invest in a savings account, prepare for retirement, and manage their debt,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “Access to financial literacy is also an equity issue that is directly reflected through racial wealth gaps. Only 27 percent of California high school students attend schools that offer personal finance classes. Ensuring that all young Californians have exposure to financial literacy is a vital step in closing inequality gaps and providing the skills and resources to improve their lives overall.”

Research shows that students who have access to high-quality financial education have better financial outcomes as adults that result in less debt and a higher quality of life. This is why the California Department of Education partnered with California-based nonprofit Next Gen Personal Finance to provide teacher stipends and professional development for financial literacy. Last August, Superintendent Thurmond announced that he secured $1.4 million in private funding for teachers in California high schools to receive professional development courtesy of Next Gen Personal Finance so they can teach financial literacy.

State Superintendent Thurmond was joined at the event by Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance; Enikia Ford Morthel, Superintendent of Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD); Laura Babitt, President of the BUSD School Board; and Crystal Rigley, personal finance teacher at Berkeley High School.

Superintendent Thurmond’s funding builds on the $3.5 billion Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant to county offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and the State Special Schools that can be used to expand financial literacy course offerings. The one-time grant is available for encumbrance through the 2025–26 fiscal year and is allocated on a per-pupil basis.

# # # #

Tony Thurmond —State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last Reviewed: Thursday, March 30, 2023

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SPI Addresses Student Financial Literacy Benefits (2024)

FAQs

Why is financial literacy beneficial for students? ›

Financial literacy is universally essential for all students, regardless of their background or future career path. It equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of personal finance, make informed decisions, and achieve financial security.

What are the benefits of teaching children financial literacy? ›

Teaching kids the basics of money management can help them develop the skills necessary to achieve financial success later in life. From saving and investing to creating and sticking to a budget, early money lessons can give your kids a leg up when it's time for them to make more significant financial decisions.

Which of the following are benefits to financial literacy? ›

A strong foundation of financial literacy can help support various life goals, such as saving for education or retirement, using debt responsibly, and running a business. Key aspects of financial literacy include knowing how to create a budget, plan for retirement, manage debt, and track personal spending.

What are the five principles of financial literacy? ›

This article will explore the five basic principles of financial literacy: earn, save & invest, protect, spend, and borrow, providing you with actionable insights to enhance your financial knowledge and make the most of your resources.

What are the four concepts of financial literacy? ›

Financial literacy is having a basic grasp of money matters and its four fundamental pillars: debt, budgeting, saving, and investing. It's understanding how to build wealth throughout one's life by leveraging the power of these pillars.

What are the three most important aspects of financial literacy? ›

Three Key Components of Financial Literacy
  • An Up-to-Date Budget. Some tend to look at the word “budget” as tantamount to the word “diet,” but at its most basic, a budget is just a spending plan. ...
  • Dedicated Savings (and Saving to Spend) ...
  • ID Theft Prevention.

What are the benefits of financial skills? ›

Strong financial knowledge and decision-making skills help people weigh options and make informed choices for their financial situations, such as deciding how and when to save and spend, comparing costs before a big purchase, and planning for retirement or other long-term savings.

What is the purpose of financial literacy month? ›

National Financial Literacy month is recognized each year in April to raise public awareness of the importance of financial literacy and maintaining smart money management habits. Financial Literacy Month evolved from Youth Financial Literacy Day, introduced by the National Endowment for Financial Education.

What are the pros and cons of learning financial literacy? ›

In conclusion, financial literacy has both its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, being financially literate can help individuals make more informed decisions with their money and avoid debt. On the other hand, financial literacy can also lead to people becoming more materialistic and obsessed with money.

Why teach financial literacy to middle school students? ›

By engaging in real-life scenarios, students learn to analyze financial situations, make informed choices, and develop effective problem-solving strategies. Financial literacy is a crucial skill that middle schoolers need to navigate the complexities of the modern world.

How to teach financial literacy to youth? ›

Teach them to allocate a particular amount of money from their allowance or earnings for savings. Encourage them to set saving goals to help them save towards something specific. Get creative with savings strategies like tracking their progress in a savings jar or opening a youth savings account.

How does financial literacy lead to a healthier life? ›

The only way to achieve financial health is through financial literacy. Being financial literate means you understand the importance of saving early and often to reach short and long term goals (like retirement). It means you understand the difference between good and bad debt, and can avoid high interest credit cards.

How to implement financial literacy in schools? ›

Eight ways to implement financial education in schools
  1. 1) Leverage the Influence of Parents and Guardians. ...
  2. 2) Market a Personal Finance Elective. ...
  3. 3) Leverage the Influence of School Administrators. ...
  4. 4) Spur Policy Change With Data. ...
  5. 5) Develop an Implementation Strategy. ...
  6. 6) Align Goals with Resources.

Does financial literacy matter? ›

One of the most important life skills everyone should possess is financial literacy because it helps you take control of your financial future and achieve your financial goals. Financial literacy teaches you how to create a budget, stick to a budget, and save money. This helps you have a better financial future.

Why is financial literacy important in an essay? ›

Financial literacy helps people in becoming independent and self-sufficient. It empowers you with basic knowledge of investment options, financial markets, capital budgeting, etc. Understanding your money mitigates the danger of facing a fraud-like situation.

How does financial literacy education help students develop an interest in math? ›

Personal finance class could pay dividends if students learn how to make wiser money decisions and avoid financial hazards, experts say. They may also develop an interest in math because of its practical applications to issues such as student loans and credit card debt.

How does financial literacy affect student financial management? ›

By having an adequate level of financial literacy, students can understand how to manage money effectively, manage budgets, manage debt, and make the right investments. Thus, students can improve their financial condition, avoid financial traps, and prepare themselves to face complex financial situations in the future.

How does financial stability affect the academic performance of the student? ›

Financial stability is a key factor in student academic success and retention, as students with credit card debt have lower grades and may even drop out of school to work full-time. Financial Knowledge and Aptitudes: Impacts on College Students' Financial Well-Being.

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