The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has paired with
the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and launched Money Smart for Young
People—a series of lesson plans for teachers and new resources for parents to
help them teach children about managing money. The free resources are designed
to improve financial education and decision-making skills among young people
from pre-K through age 20.
Curricula for
different grades and abilities. The FDIC announced that its new series features four curricula
tailored for different age groups and abilities. They are Money Smart for
Grades Pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Each curriculum consists of multiple
lessons that offer instructors ideas on how to integrate financial education
instruction into subjects such as math, English, and social studies.
Gruenberg
promotes program at Jump$tart. At the Jump$tart Coalition National Partners
Meeting in Washington, D.C., on April 23, 2015, FDIC Chairman Martin J.
Gruenberg called the Money Smart
for Young People series “an extraordinary step forward for financial literacy.
It is the first nationally available free curriculum that directly brings
educators, parents, other family members and caregivers into the learning
process for young people of all ages.”
FDIC adds videos
to teacher resources. Gruenberg also announced that, for the first time, the FDIC is
providing videos for teachers that demonstrate how some fundamental financial
lessons can be delivered in the classroom. The short videos are meant to
“empower teachers not just by building their confidence, but inspiring their
creativity to talk about money in the classroom.” The tools and videos are
available online at the FDIC’s Teacher Online Resource Center.
Cordray calls it
“fantastic.” Speaking at the same meeting, CFPB Directory Richard Cordray said, “The Money
Smart tool is a fantastic resource to start conversations about financial
topics and help build successful financial futures. It is presented in an
easy-to-digest format that helps teachers, parents, and young people
themselves.” Cordray said that in the classroom, financial education should be
as fundamental as math and reading. And in the home, he added, financial
education should be as fundamental “as the education we receive from our
parents about keeping a clean house or being good citizens of our communities.”
