Will This Oklahoma School Program Boost Our Economy?

Anyone who’s ever found it difficult to file their taxes or manage their bills will appreciate what Oklahoma’s schools will soon be doing. Starting this May, Sooner State students will learn skills that prepare them for financial responsibility.
As the NewsOK reports, following state state legislation passed in 2007, Oklahoma students “must demonstrate an understanding in banking, taxes, investing, loans, insurance, identity theft and eight other areas to graduate.” And teachers are required to certify students’ working knowledge in each area. The requirements will be implemented from the seventh through 12th grades and schools have the option of using curriculum provided by the state Education Department or whatever they choose, Amy Lee, the executive director of the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education told the publication.
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Oklahoma’s move to teach financial literacy sounds like a no-brainer if we want to prepare students with skills outside of reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic. It’s also important to ensure that future generations avoid financial blunders when we’re still reeling from the 2008 economic crash—not to mention our ballooning student loan debt, which has surpassed $1 trillion.