Thoughts on financial literacy as a graduation requirement...

I want to take this opportunity to share my belief in financial literacy as a requirement for graduation from high school.

As one of the most valuable content areas a student can learn in high school (Thanks to Brian Page (@FinEdChat) for this paraphrased statement!), why don't all states require financial literacy content as a graduation requirement? Does every student use history education 20 years after high school? Maybe if they are a contestant on Jeopardy! How about chemistry? A foreign language? While students may (and I emphasize may) use bits and pieces of traditional content areas later in life, EVERY student will use financial literacy concepts over and over again throughout their life.

Make a stand! Join professional associations and private interest groups in getting financial literacy content in front of every student in every state and taught by qualified educators. Contact your state board of education. Write to legislators. What ever it takes, we must do a better job in this country of preparing young people for effective financial decision-making. Without financial literacy education, we have failed as an educational system of preparing students for real life.

Share your thoughts on making financial literacy education a graduation requirement. Tweet me @MCWhiteOH today! I look forward to your thoughts and views on this very timely and important educational issue.