By Daniel Thompson

During the Great Recession, while individuals, businesses, and policymakers nationwide were trying to determine ways to solve current and pressing problems, visionary leaders in Virginia were taking steps to help prevent a recurrence. In 2009, the Virginia Board of Education amended the high school graduation requirements to include a requirement that every student pass a full-credit (full-year) course in economics and personal finance, seeking to better equip graduating students to be successful in the labor market and remain financially solvent. Virginia’s graduating class of 2015 was the first to graduate with all students meeting this new requirement.

Virginia’s Standards of Learning are among the strongest in the nation. They contain elements of economics and personal finance in each grade, K-12, building on previously learned concepts from each level to the next. Since Virginia is one of only a few states with a full-credit requirement in economics and personal finance, Virginia’s students are poised to have a competitive advantage.

Ensuring that Virginia’s teachers have both the content knowledge and engaging, effective lessons to use in teaching their students is critical. In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education and many in the private sector, the Virginia Council on Economic Education and its affiliated, university-based Centers for Economic Education have conducted economics institutes and personal finance institutes for more than 1,700 high school teachers, well over half of those teaching the course statewide. Our strong public/private partnership will enable ongoing delivery of quality training and resources to meet the continuing needs of teachers and their students.

The full-year high school course in Virginia provides all students with essential life skills that will benefit them, regardless of their future vocation or personal circumstances. Economically and financially literate students will become more productive employees and possibly, entrepreneurs. They will become more savvy consumers and more responsible users of credit. And, they will become more informed citizens and voters. By educating Virginia’s students in economics and personal finance, we are helping to create financially responsible adults and a more qualified workforce, ultimately leading to a stronger economy in Virginia.

Visit our website, http://SurveyoftheStates.com for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post Virginia Leads the Charge in Preparing Students for Lifelong Financial Success - Daniel R. Mortensen, Executive Director, Virginia Council on Economic Education appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 3, 2016 | BY: brendan

By Daniel Thompson

During the Great Recession, while individuals, businesses, and policymakers nationwide were trying to determine ways to solve current and pressing problems, visionary leaders in Virginia were taking steps to help prevent a recurrence. In 2009, the Virginia Board of Education amended the high school graduation requirements to include a requirement that every student pass a full-credit (full-year) course in economics and personal finance, seeking to better equip graduating students to be successful in the labor market and remain financially solvent. Virginia’s graduating class of 2015 was the first to graduate with all students meeting this new requirement.

Virginia’s Standards of Learning are among the strongest in the nation. They contain elements of economics and personal finance in each grade, K-12, building on previously learned concepts from each level to the next. Since Virginia is one of only a few states with a full-credit requirement in economics and personal finance, Virginia’s students are poised to have a competitive advantage.

Ensuring that Virginia’s teachers have both the content knowledge and engaging, effective lessons to use in teaching their students is critical. In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education and many in the private sector, the Virginia Council on Economic Education and its affiliated, university-based Centers for Economic Education have conducted economics institutes and personal finance institutes for more than 1,700 high school teachers, well over half of those teaching the course statewide. Our strong public/private partnership will enable ongoing delivery of quality training and resources to meet the continuing needs of teachers and their students.

The full-year high school course in Virginia provides all students with essential life skills that will benefit them, regardless of their future vocation or personal circumstances. Economically and financially literate students will become more productive employees and possibly, entrepreneurs. They will become more savvy consumers and more responsible users of credit. And, they will become more informed citizens and voters. By educating Virginia’s students in economics and personal finance, we are helping to create financially responsible adults and a more qualified workforce, ultimately leading to a stronger economy in Virginia.

Visit our website, http://SurveyoftheStates.com for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post Virginia Leads the Charge in Preparing Students for Lifelong Financial Success - Daniel R. Mortensen, Executive Director, Virginia Council on Economic Education appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 3, 2016 | BY: brendan

By Daniel Thompson

During the Great Recession, while individuals, businesses, and policymakers nationwide were trying to determine ways to solve current and pressing problems, visionary leaders in Virginia were taking steps to help prevent a recurrence. In 2009, the Virginia Board of Education amended the high school graduation requirements to include a requirement that every student pass a full-credit (full-year) course in economics and personal finance, seeking to better equip graduating students to be successful in the labor market and remain financially solvent. Virginia’s graduating class of 2015 was the first to graduate with all students meeting this new requirement.

Virginia’s Standards of Learning are among the strongest in the nation. They contain elements of economics and personal finance in each grade, K-12, building on previously learned concepts from each level to the next. Since Virginia is one of only a few states with a full-credit requirement in economics and personal finance, Virginia’s students are poised to have a competitive advantage.

Ensuring that Virginia’s teachers have both the content knowledge and engaging, effective lessons to use in teaching their students is critical. In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education and many in the private sector, the Virginia Council on Economic Education and its affiliated, university-based Centers for Economic Education have conducted economics institutes and personal finance institutes for more than 1,700 high school teachers, well over half of those teaching the course statewide. Our strong public/private partnership will enable ongoing delivery of quality training and resources to meet the continuing needs of teachers and their students.

The full-year high school course in Virginia provides all students with essential life skills that will benefit them, regardless of their future vocation or personal circumstances. Economically and financially literate students will become more productive employees and possibly, entrepreneurs. They will become more savvy consumers and more responsible users of credit. And, they will become more informed citizens and voters. By educating Virginia’s students in economics and personal finance, we are helping to create financially responsible adults and a more qualified workforce, ultimately leading to a stronger economy in Virginia.

Visit our website, http://SurveyoftheStates.com for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post Virginia Leads the Charge in Preparing Students for Lifelong Financial Success - Daniel R. Mortensen, Executive Director, Virginia Council on Economic Education appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 3, 2016 | BY: brendan

By Daniel Thompson

AS RHODE ISLAND’S STATE TREASURER, I am reminded every day of the critical importance of equipping our students with financial literacy skills so that they are able to make smart financial decisions throughout their lives. I am proud to be a part of recent efforts in Rhode Island to do just that.

The Survey of the States played an important role in propelling change in Rhode Island. The 2014 Survey showed that our state had no standards, course requirements, or statewide testing in personal finance. A group of concerned high school students in Rhode Island recognized that they are making life-altering financial decisions on education, housing, and transportation immediately after, and often even before, their high school graduation. They took it upon themselves to do something to improve the state’s educational system. In November 2014, they successfully advocated for the adoption of CEE’s National Standards for Financial Literacy as Rhode Island’s first-ever statewide standards. As a result, Rhode Island is now “on the map” when looking at the status of personal finance education across the nation.

Yet there is still more work to be done. Here in Rhode Island, we continue to build on the financial literacy initiative that began with those few motivated Rhode Island teenagers. A coalition of interested policymakers, educators, and industry leaders has been working together to build the financial capability of our youth so that the next generation will be better able to make informed decisions that positively impact their financial future, as well as our society as a whole. Thanks to organizations like the Rhode Island Council for Economic Education, we’re working to provide resources and professional development to teachers, and continuing to build awareness of the need for financial education throughout the state, region, and country.

Visit our website, http://SurveyoftheStates.com for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post Putting Financial Education on the Map in Rhode Island – Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island State Treasurer appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 2, 2016 | BY: brendan

By Daniel Thompson

AS RHODE ISLAND’S STATE TREASURER, I am reminded every day of the critical importance of equipping our students with financial literacy skills so that they are able to make smart financial decisions throughout their lives. I am proud to be a part of recent efforts in Rhode Island to do just that.

The Survey of the States played an important role in propelling change in Rhode Island. The 2014 Survey showed that our state had no standards, course requirements, or statewide testing in personal finance. A group of concerned high school students in Rhode Island recognized that they are making life-altering financial decisions on education, housing, and transportation immediately after, and often even before, their high school graduation. They took it upon themselves to do something to improve the state’s educational system. In November 2014, they successfully advocated for the adoption of CEE’s National Standards for Financial Literacy as Rhode Island’s first-ever statewide standards. As a result, Rhode Island is now “on the map” when looking at the status of personal finance education across the nation.

Yet there is still more work to be done. Here in Rhode Island, we continue to build on the financial literacy initiative that began with those few motivated Rhode Island teenagers. A coalition of interested policymakers, educators, and industry leaders has been working together to build the financial capability of our youth so that the next generation will be better able to make informed decisions that positively impact their financial future, as well as our society as a whole. Thanks to organizations like the Rhode Island Council for Economic Education, we’re working to provide resources and professional development to teachers, and continuing to build awareness of the need for financial education throughout the state, region, and country.

Visit our website, http://SurveyoftheStates.com for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post Putting Financial Education on the Map in Rhode Island – Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island State Treasurer appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 2, 2016 | BY: brendan

By Daniel Thompson

AS RHODE ISLAND’S STATE TREASURER, I am reminded every day of the critical importance of equipping our students with financial literacy skills so that they are able to make smart financial decisions throughout their lives. I am proud to be a part of recent efforts in Rhode Island to do just that.

The Survey of the States played an important role in propelling change in Rhode Island. The 2014 Survey showed that our state had no standards, course requirements, or statewide testing in personal finance. A group of concerned high school students in Rhode Island recognized that they are making life-altering financial decisions on education, housing, and transportation immediately after, and often even before, their high school graduation. They took it upon themselves to do something to improve the state’s educational system. In November 2014, they successfully advocated for the adoption of CEE’s National Standards for Financial Literacy as Rhode Island’s first-ever statewide standards. As a result, Rhode Island is now “on the map” when looking at the status of personal finance education across the nation.

Yet there is still more work to be done. Here in Rhode Island, we continue to build on the financial literacy initiative that began with those few motivated Rhode Island teenagers. A coalition of interested policymakers, educators, and industry leaders has been working together to build the financial capability of our youth so that the next generation will be better able to make informed decisions that positively impact their financial future, as well as our society as a whole. Thanks to organizations like the Rhode Island Council for Economic Education, we’re working to provide resources and professional development to teachers, and continuing to build awareness of the need for financial education throughout the state, region, and country.

Visit our website, http://SurveyoftheStates.com for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post Putting Financial Education on the Map in Rhode Island – Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island State Treasurer appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 2, 2016 | BY: brendan

By Daniel Thompson

In 2012, nearly 30,000 teenagers from 18 countries took part in the first large-scale international assessment of young people’s financial literacy. More than one in six students in the United States failed to reach the baseline level of proficiency in financial literacy. Overall, American students fall in the middle of the pack globally.

Visit our website, http://SurveyoftheStates.com for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post American Students Lack Financial Knowledge and Skills appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 1, 2016 | BY: brendan

By Daniel Thompson

In 2012, nearly… 30,000 teenagers from 18 countries took part in the first large-scale international assessment of young people’s financial literacy. More than one in six students in the United States failed to reach the baseline level of proficiency in financial literacy. Overall, American students fall in the middle of the pack globally.

Visit our website, http://SurveyoftheStates.com for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post American Students Lack Financial Knowledge and Skills appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 1, 2016 | BY: brendan

By Daniel Thompson

In 2012, nearly 30,000 teenagers from 18 countries took part in the first large-scale international assessment of young people’s financial literacy. More than one in six students in the United States failed to reach the baseline level of proficiency in financial literacy. Overall, American students fall in the middle of the pack globally.

Visit our website, http://SurveyoftheStates.com for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post American Students Lack Financial Knowledge and Skills appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: February 1, 2016 | BY: brendan

By Daniel Thompson

Every two years, the Council for Economic Education (CEE) comprehensively reviews the state of K-12 economic and financial education in the United States, collecting data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. There has been notable progress since the first survey was published in 1998; yet the pace of change has slowed. The 2016 Survey of the States shows that there has been no improvement in economic education in recent years and slow growth in personal finance education.The biennial Survey of the States serves as an important benchmark for our progress, revealing both how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

Research shows that requirements are the main driver of economics and personal finance being taught in schools. CEE works with our nationwide network of affiliates to both advocate for requirements and assist in their implementation. To support local and state advocacy initiatives, we have developed voluntary standards in economics and personal finance; nationally-normed, curriculum-agnostic assessments in economics and personal finance; and an online advocacy toolkit.

Visit our website for an interactive experience and download the study. And, find out where you state stands in economics and personal finance education and how you can take action today.

The post Note from Nan J. Morrison, President & CEO | Economic and Personal Finance Education in Our Nation’s Schools appeared first on Council for Economic Education.

POSTED: January 29, 2016 | BY: brendan