PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF DR. STEVE GALLON III
October 18, 2021
At the School Board meeting of October 20, 2021, School Board Vice Chair Dr. Steve Gallon III will propose agenda item H-14 calling for financial literacy in schools.
School Board Agenda Item H-14, was supported and co-sponsored by Chairwoman Perla Tabares Hantman, Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingal, Ms. Lucia Baez-Geller, Ms. Christi Fraga, Ms. Maria Teresa Rojas, Dr. Lubby Navarro, and Dr. Marta Pérez during the committee meeting held on October 13, 2021.
The Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) remains committed to providing educational excellence and equity to all students and seek to offer a relevant and rigorous curriculum and educational experience from PK-12. It is also committed to ensuring the provision of a curriculum and educational experience that not only addresses and supports students’ present needs, but that have significant implications for their continued learning and life-long success.
One such skill that has proven critical to life-long learning and success is financial literacy. Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting and investing. It is also considered the foundation of one’s relationship with money, and a life-long learning endeavor. However, it is commonly agreed upon that the earlier one starts in developing crucial skills and understandings related to financial literacy, the better off they will be. Education has been deemed the most significant factor and key to success when it comes to money.
Despite education being essential to one’s financial literacy understanding and proficiency, many researchers have found that far too few students — particularly those from low-income backgrounds — receive any personal finance education during high school. Yet, they are expected to make big financial decisions about student loans and budgeting for living expenses after graduation.
As a District committed to the learning and lifelong well-being of its students, M-DCPS should review and examine the current implementation and delivery of specific curriculum and courses focused on financial literacy, beginning with middle and high schools. Although such courses attempt to “infuse” or “integrate” concepts to teach financial literacy to students, a deliberate, intentional curriculum and related courses should be provided to students, especially in schools located in underserved communities which are more likely to produce high financial illiteracy rates.
“I remain grateful for the unanimous support of my colleagues on this critical area of curriculum review and delivery for our students,” said Dr. Gallon. “Financial literacy can serve as the life-line for so many Americans, and public education must serve as a key provider and predicate for our students to learn essential skills for not only learning, but life. Miami-Dade County Public Schools must continue to be a leader in providing meaningful, deliberate, and equitable learning opportunities for all students. The provision of intentional, stand-alone financial literacy in the District will be a huge win for our district, community, and most important, our students.”
To read the full item, click here:
http://pdfs.dadeschools.net/Bdarch/2021/bd102021/agenda/h14.pdf
CONTACT: Pavi’Elle Phillips
305-995-1334
district1@dadeschools.net
