Financial Literacy Month 2014 – Kick Off

As all of you know, April is no longer “the cruelest month”; it is now financial literacy month!

All of us at CEE are enthusiastic about our plans to celebrate the progress being made in financial and economic literacy and the chance to involve all of you. The 2014 Survey of the States found that only 17 states require a course including personal finance for high school graduation. Those 17 states represent only about 40% of the U.S. population.  That’s a huge gap and we need to close it.  We must expand our high school curricula and then provide our teachers with the tools they need to help students develop these essential real-world skills.

Throughout the month of April, we will share the perspectives here of some of our nation’s most important financial, corporate, and political leaders on the need for and importance of financial and economic literacy. Look out for essays from great guest bloggers, such as:

Carolyn Berkowitz, Managing VP of Community Affairs at Capital One and President of Capital One Foundation

Representative Rubén Hinojosa, 15^th District of Texas

Jeff Lacker, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and CEE Board Member

David J. Cowen, President & CEO of American Finance Museum and Co-Chair of the International Federation of Finance Museums

Fisher Derderian, Sophomore at The King’s College and CEE Intern

Dan Kadlec, journalist

Brian Page, 2011 Ohio Department of Education Milken National Educator Recipient

Richard Fischer, President & CEO of the Federal Bank of Dallas

Senator Jack Reed, Rhode Island

Beth Kobliner, President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans.

Representative Matt Cartwright, 17^th District of Pennsylvania

And more!

At the end of the month, I will share my thoughts on these experiences. And I hope that you will share some of your experiences with us here.

We know that financial literacy changes the way people see the world and their roles in it. Together, we can make a difference.

Nan J. Morrison
President & CEO
Council for Economic Education