Kansas Financial Literacy Standards
As of 2015 Kansas has earned a grade of “D” for its standards for teaching personal finance in public schools, says the Center for Financial Literacy. This Center is located at Champlain College and compiles state-by-state financial education statistics every other year. Kansas does not require taking a personal finance course for high school students to graduate. However, the Kansas Core does include financial literacy standards in its 21st Century Skills applicable to all high school grades.
In September 2014 the Sunflower State received a report written by the Kansas Financial Literacy Work Team. The team identified a need for greater emphasis on implementing financial literacy standards, and suggested providing additional resources to teachers and schools to increase the quality of financial education in Kansas schools. For this report, Kansas receives extra credit on Champlain’s National Report Card.
As reported by the Council for Economic Education (CEE), the Sunflower State includes financial education in its K-12 standards. However, there is no requirement for the standards to be implemented by districts, and no personal finance course is required to be offered and/or taken in high school.
National Standards for Financial Education
Financial Literacy Standards for Older Youth & Adults (High School through Adults)
Although there is no direct mandate by the California State Board of Education, it is recommended that national standards be implemented. Financial education is a unique subject; all participants have developed financial habits and relationships with money before instruction begins.
National standards are those that have been proven in empirical and theoretical research to produce the highest improvements in participant test scores.
Financial Literacy Standards for Kids (Kids PK through 8th Grade)
In collaboration with education leader Heidi Jacobs, the NFEC created these financial literacy standards to define learning goals and educational targets for optimal child financial education. Guided by strong pedagogical theory, the standards ensure that instructional targets are age- and developmentally-appropriate and that lessons can be effectively scaffolded. Standards represent five sections based on topic areas in the NFEC curriculum.
Standards for Financial Education Instructors
The NFEC teamed with the well-known Danielson Group to develop the first and only national standards for financial educators – The Framework for Teaching Personal Finance – to define optimal educator skill sets and performance levels. The framework also identifies the financial educator responsibilities empirically proven to produce highest gains in participant test scores. This framework is used in all 50 states, including California.
