Financial literacy is now required in high schools in Ohio; Boardman creates an online course

BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) – Starting this fall, financial literacy will become a compulsory high school course in Ohio. We found that things have changed when it comes to financial literacy.

Money is king, but like many things in our world, currency has also entered the digital world. While the basics remain the same, the financial world has changed with the rise of apps and cryptocurrency.

“It’s something I’m learning more so I can teach it. It’s definitely something kids are interested in because it’s what they hear about and it’s an easy way to make money, ”said Noelle Matiste, high school business and technology teacher. Boardman.

But the basics like loans, 401 (k), using a checkbook, using a credit card, and investing in stable options are still important to learn.

“The new money apps that kids are using like Venmo and Cash App and PayPal is something newer that we’re teaching,” Matiste said.

Thanks to Senate Bill 1, these financial literacy courses are a graduation requirement for students starting high school on or after July 1, 2022. They will have to take 60 hours of classes to obtain credits.

For some schools this is already an elective course but now that it is a requirement it could lead to scheduling issues.

“Some of our art departments are concerned about ‘how do you fit this into the schedules?’ Because right now, if a student takes three music lessons during the day, there is no room to add an extra optional lesson, ”said Mark Zura, principal of Boardman High School.

So, for those students who are motivated to go above and beyond, they have created an online course.

“So there will be two different options, either taking it online or taking it in the summer if they have a busy schedule,” Zura said.

Dr Brad Maguth, director of the HK Barker Center for Education at Akron University, called for passage of the bill. He says it’s a historic moment for Ohio.

“I think this is the reality of the pandemic and what it has done to households and families and what it has done to communities, to our state. The financial barriers and challenges and how do we help empower families financially and economically, ”said Dr Maguth.

Dr Maguth said he was asking teachers to teach high schools in Ohio the Financial Literacy Learning Standards, which have been in place since 2019.