10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

House bill requires personal finance classes in high schools

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill moving in the state House of Delegates in the second half of the 2020 Regular Legislative Session is written to ensure West Virginia’s public school students graduate with “a basic understanding of personal finance.”

On Monday, members of the House Education Committee passed an amended version of HB 2775 which, as now written, requires each high school student to complete a one credit course specifically focused on personal finance to graduate.

“Personal finance in my opinion, next to reading and writing, is probably the most important thing that we can get these kids out of high school with,” said Delegate Robert Thompson (D – Wayne, 19).

Delegate Robert Thompson (D-Wayne)

“They (students) constantly say, ‘You’re not doing anything to prepare us. Why do we need to know this stuff?’ Well, this is one thing that they absolutely need to know to function in life.”

Supporters, like Thompson, argued that people who understand personal finances are better prepared to manage their money as adults.

To help with that, the bill requires the state Board of Education to develop standards for personal finance coursework by July 1, 2021.

The proposal next goes to the floor of the House of Delegates.





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