Washington’s K-12 students will be learning a lot more about saving, credit, Roth IRAs and more after the announcement last week that the state is adding financial literacy topics to the school curriculum.
[The financial education Learning Standards, released last week by the state superintendent’s office, can be read here.]
Financial literacy topics will be worked into the curriculum every year from Kindergarten through grade 12.
According to documents from the superintendent’s office, students will eventually be expected to be competent in the following areas:
Source: Washington State Learning Standards document
More info from the Seattle Times:
The standards will be integrated into classroom activities, likely in math or social studies classes, said Nate Olson, spokesman for the state superintendent’s office. In the second grade, for example, students will compare different types of savings methods, like piggy banks or banks, based on risk of loss. By the 12th grade, students will develop a personal financial plan or budget with goals, net worth statement and estate plan.
A planning group is still figuring out how schools will put the new financial standards into practice, Olson said.
