Student Personal Financial Education

We are concerned consumers and business owners residing and conducting business in the State of Illinois. We strongly feel the need for educating students of Illinois schools in the proper use of credit and credit cards.





We find it unacceptable that banks and lending institutions target students graduating high school and college students with offers of extended credit without the knowledge of how to maintain a positive credit history. We find it appalling and will not accept any graduating student starting off in life uneducated about credit and other personal financial matters.





We would like to see:





The state of Illinois maintain more rigorous requirements for students that are graduating, teacher certifications and to be supportive of economic and personal financial education in creating a true ownership society.





To that end we intend to encourage school systems to:





1. Integrate personal finance and economics into core curriculum grades K-12





2. Ensure that all schools require the provision of an economics course that includes personal finance, credit and debt education that would be a requirement for graduation.





3. Ensure that all student assessments include economics and personal finance.





4. Ensure that all schools guarantee fully trained instructors are in place to teach personal finance curriculum.





5. Monitor progress of the teaching of personal finance, insuring that instructors have the tools necessary to promote economic and financial literacy of students.





In signing this petition, we formally request that these topics be included in any upcoming hearings regarding the proper scope of student education in personal finances and provide a comprehensive proposal designed to better prepare students to compete and succeed in today's economy.