The Importance of Teaching Financial Literacy in Schools

By Linda Miller

June 16th, 2021

We live at a time when nearly half of all Americans do not expect to have enough money to retire comfortably, credit card debt is at its highest point ever, and 40% of Americans would not even be able to afford a $400 emergency expense. It is therefore vital that schools teach financial responsibility to kids, as otherwise they will be unprepared to make informed financial decisions as they move into adulthood.

Teaching personal finance at school is a good way to improve financial capacity for today's young people. Financial attitudes, habits, and norms begin to mold between age 6 and 12, when the student typically is in 1st through 6th grade. Teaching children about financial responsibility at those ages can have a long-lasting impact.

Financial education can make a difference. It is very important to expose kids to money and smart financial decision-making to promote financial literacy, and teach financial education skills to the young learners. Many public schools do not include such classes in their curriculum, so unfortunately many children will not have access to crucial financial education. And indeed, it has been found that nearly two thirds of Americans cannot pass a basic test of financial literacy. Many schools don't see this topic as important enough, even though this should be offered just like other classes such as music and art. Also, not all teachers may feel confident in teaching personal finance yet, due to the specialized, complex nature of many of the topics.

RemoteLearning.school is committed to ensure that every child has equitable access to a fundamental life skill that is related to the financial outcomes of their lives. We empower children with the financial skills and tools they need to help build a more secure future for themselves and their families, and are offering financial literacy classes to help kids with their future. Our curriculum includes personal finance classes for all student age groups.

From early age, all our elementary school students have access to the "Kid Finance" class in which the young learners are introduced to the fundamentals of financial literacy. As they enter Middle School, students can take the "Middle School Financial Literacy" class and explore more advanced topics pertaining to budgeting, spending, saving, and financial planning, as they gain the knowledge needed to manage their financial resources effectively.  Finally, at high school, students can take our "High School Personal Finance" class which instills them with practical knowledge on topics such as money management, banking, investing, borrowing, earning power, financial services, insurance, stocks, and much more, to help them make smart financial decisions at all stages in their life.