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? ›

By understanding their money mindset, students can identify both positive and negative aspects of their relationship with money, such as spending habits, financial goals, and emotional reactions to financial challenges.

What are the benefits of being financially literate? ›

Benefits of Improving Financial Literacy Skills
  • Managing day-to-day expenses.
  • Avoid high levels of debt.
  • Emergency preparation.
  • Preparing for the future.
Apr 1, 2024

What are the benefits of financial literacy seminar? ›

Benefits of Attending Financial Literacy Workshops/Webinars
  • Building a Strong Financial Foundation. ...
  • Making Informed Career Choices. ...
  • Building Credit Responsibly. ...
  • Enhancing Money Management Skills. ...
  • Gaining Confidence in Financial Decision-Making. ...
  • Long-Term Financial Security.
Nov 20, 2023

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.

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 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.

How can personal finance benefit me as a student? ›

Students who are required to take personal finance courses starting from a young age are more likely to tap lower-cost loans and grants when it comes to paying for college and less likely to rely on private loans or high-interest credit cards, according to a study by Christiana Stoddard and Carly Urban for the National ...

What are the four main types of financial literacy? ›

Financial literacy is well within the reach of anyone of any level of education. What is financial literacy? Financial literacy is having a basic grasp of money matters and its four fundamental pillars: debt, budgeting, saving, and investing.

How does financial literacy lead to a healthier life? ›

People with higher financial literacy are more able to make informed financial decisions to obtain higher incomes. In addition, they will also optimize their consumption structure regarding commercial health insurance and health care, obtain better health services, and improve their health.

What is a famous quote about financial literacy? ›

“If you don't understand the language of money, and you don't have a bank account, then you're just an economic slave.” “The widespread deficit in financial literacy has raised a good deal of concern among government agencies, policymakers, and leaders in the community and business sectors.

Which is the main goal of becoming financially literate? ›

The main goal of becoming financially literate is becoming financially stable. Being financially literate means having the knowledge and skills to manage personal finances effectively.

Do financial literacy classes help? ›

Students can learn the basics of personal finance by incorporating financial literacy into the school curriculum. This knowledge is a foundation for making informed financial decisions and helps them avoid common financial mistakes that can have long-term consequences.

Why do students need to learn 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 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.

How to teach financial literacy to youth? ›

  1. Make Them Earn Their Allowance.
  2. Encourage Part-Time Gigs.
  3. Contribute to Purchases.
  4. Make It a Game.
  5. Open a Bank Account.
  6. Introduce Investing.
  7. Talk Candidly About Money.

Why is learning about financial literacy important for your future? ›

Financial literacy equips individuals with the essential knowledge and skills to prepare for life beyond their careers. By learning the art of effective investing and saving, individuals can live a comfortable and worry-free retirement while achieving their long-term financial goals.

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.

Why is money management important for students? ›

By teaching students about money management, schools can help reduce poverty and financial inequality. Financial literacy can help students understand the importance of saving, investing, and avoiding debt, and these skills can help them achieve financial stability and independence in the future.

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