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News Release Detail
News Release
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| For Immediate Release Contact: | William Reinhard, 410.767.0486 |
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| MARYLAND TAKING A LEAD IN FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION |
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| BALTIMORE, MD (August 4, 2009) |
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More than 50 Maryland teachers this week will take part in a workshop aimed at improving financial literacy instruction. The workshop, taking place in Columbia Aug. 4-6, and is based on the University of Arizona’s national financial literacy training model called Family Economics and Financial Education (FEFE) and led by FEFE master teachers. This year’s workshop will include a panel of Maryland educators, as well as Delegate Dana A. Stein (Baltimore County).
The FEFE program is housed within the University of Arizona’s Take Charge America Institute (TCAI) for Consumer Financial Education and Research. TCAI is dedicated to improving the money-management skills and financial confidence of consumers of all ages through the development and support of research-based educational outreach programs.
Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) piloted this professional development last summer with more than 40 teachers from across the state, and over 20 of them are returning for a one-day follow-up, while teachers new to the FEFE curriculum will attend all three days. The FEFE professional development comes at a time when the importance of financial literacy education is all too apparent.
Since last summer’s training, Delegate Stein and Senator C. Anthony Muse (Prince George’s County) co-chaired a task force on “How to Improve Financial Literacy in the State.” The task force developed recommendations that were presented to Maryland State Board of Education. In response, MSDE has convened a Financial Literacy Advisory Council and Financial Literacy Design Team to begin the development of state standards on financial literacy. Both groups have met and the work is underway.
“The nation’s economy, as well as the state’s economy, is driving the need for more people to be financially literate,” said Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools. “Many of the state’s largest employers require security clearances, and if our students are not financially literate, this can impede their ability to have a successful career. This is especially true as Maryland continues to prepare for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), which is anticipated to bring tremendous employment growth to Maryland, many of which will require security clearances.”
For more information on the Family Economics and Financial Education resources, please visit www.fefe.arizona.edu. |
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