Rebecca Patterson on CNBC

CEE Board Chair Rebecca Patterson recently wrote an Op-ed, “What a stronger economy? Start by teaching personal finance to teachers.” Published on CNBC, Patterson underscores the need to increase the number of states requiring K-12 financial education and outlines how an educational requirement in more states could have a significant influence on the U.S. economy.

Key points:

• There is ample evidence that training teachers in financial education matters can improve their students’ future economic choices, which in turn influence broader economic trends.
• Currently, only half of states require at least one course in either economics or personal finance for high school graduation.
• Ensuring financial capability for every child in every state seems to have broad voter support, according to Pew Research.

About the Council for Economic Education

The Council for Economic Education’s (CEE’s) mission is to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities, and learn to successfully navigate in our ever-changing economy. We carry out our mission in three ways.  We advocate to require financial and economic education in every state. We provide training, tools and resources – online and live through over 180 affiliates nationwide – to more than 40,000 teachers annually who in turn bring the highest quality economics and personal finance instruction to over 4 million students. We deepen knowledge and introduce high school students to critical career capabilities through our national competitions and Invest in Girls program.

Media contact: 

CEE: press@staging.councilforeconed.org