Financial Literacy Law Draws National Attention
Oklahoma's new law requiring financial literacy instruction in public schools recently received attention from legislators across the country.
Rep. Ann Coody, who authored Oklahoma's financial literacy law, participated in a panel discussion on the issue on August 7th at theNational Conference of State Legislatures annual meeting in Boston.
"The NCSL meeting provided an exciting opportunity to put the spotlight on Oklahoma and our efforts to help students avoid debt problems," said Coody, R-Lawton. "State lawmakers across the country are concerned about the financial problems our young people face today and many are considering enacting similar laws."
Coody's House Bill 1476 created the Passport to Financial Literacy Act. The measure, approved by the Oklahoma Legislature this year, requires financial literacy instruction for all Oklahoma secondary school students to help them avoid money problems in their adult years.
House Bill 1476 allows individual school districts to decide whether the components of personal financial literacy instruction will be incorporated into one or more existing courses of study or into a separate new course. Under the new law, students can be instructed in the elements of personal financial literacy anytime through grades seven through twelve.
It will be implemented in state schools beginning in the 2008-2009 school year.
"It's unfortunate, but many young people in Oklahoma have finished high school without knowing how to budget money or even use a checking account," said Coody, a 39-year educator and retired principal of MacArthur High School in Lawton. "As a result, many of them swiftly accumulate debt after graduation and struggle for years to pay it off. I believe financial instruction in public schools will help many students avoid that fate. I'm proud that this important bill has received national attention and that Oklahoma is at the forefront of this important education issue."
Rep. Ann Coody, who authored Oklahoma's financial literacy law, participated in a panel discussion on the issue on August 7th at theNational Conference of State Legislatures annual meeting in Boston.
"The NCSL meeting provided an exciting opportunity to put the spotlight on Oklahoma and our efforts to help students avoid debt problems," said Coody, R-Lawton. "State lawmakers across the country are concerned about the financial problems our young people face today and many are considering enacting similar laws."
Coody's House Bill 1476 created the Passport to Financial Literacy Act. The measure, approved by the Oklahoma Legislature this year, requires financial literacy instruction for all Oklahoma secondary school students to help them avoid money problems in their adult years.
House Bill 1476 allows individual school districts to decide whether the components of personal financial literacy instruction will be incorporated into one or more existing courses of study or into a separate new course. Under the new law, students can be instructed in the elements of personal financial literacy anytime through grades seven through twelve.
It will be implemented in state schools beginning in the 2008-2009 school year.
"It's unfortunate, but many young people in Oklahoma have finished high school without knowing how to budget money or even use a checking account," said Coody, a 39-year educator and retired principal of MacArthur High School in Lawton. "As a result, many of them swiftly accumulate debt after graduation and struggle for years to pay it off. I believe financial instruction in public schools will help many students avoid that fate. I'm proud that this important bill has received national attention and that Oklahoma is at the forefront of this important education issue."
Labels: Ann Coody, Financial Literacy
posted by Mike McCarville @ 11:41 AM
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