Financial Literacy for all Maryland students

We, the undersigned, recognize that an education in the principles of personal finance including the proper use of credit, the risks of excessive debt, the value of sound household budgeting and the importance of saving and investing for the future is critical to a productive livelihood for Marylands public school students. We believe that our nations economic crisis in which far too many Marylanders lost jobs, homes and life savings strongly reinforced the need to provide our students with these essential tools of financial security. Finally, we believe that those who graduate from high school, and go on to higher education or enter the job market with an understanding of these principles, are at a significant advantage over those who do not.

It is for these reasons that we, as Maryland families, taxpayers and students, call upon the Maryland General Assembly to follow the lead of several other states in the country, and pass legislation in 2012 that will require all of our high school students to complete a standalone course in financial literacy in order to graduate.