Benjamin Logan High School family and consumer sciences teacher Lois Stoll from Benjamin Logan High School and two of her students spoke to Bellefontaine Rotary Club members at their Monday meeting about the importance of personal finance education for youths.
During the presentation at BUILD Cowork + Space, 139 W. Columbus Ave., Mrs. Stoll and pupils Makenna Straker and Andrew Hughes related that only seven states in the nation require a personal finance course during a student’s education.
Under current state law, the manner in which financial literacy instruction is integrated into a district or school’s curriculum is a local decision. Senate Bill 1 would require all students graduating from high school in Ohio to have a one semester course in personal finance (not economics).
To earn a diploma from Benjamin Logan High School, students must meet complete one credit of Career Readiness (Financial Literacy). The course covers topics in order of needs after entering the job market such as taxes, checking, savings, paying for college, types of credit and managing credit, investing, insurance and budgeting.
In this required junior-level course, students also develop effective learning strategies and skills to provide a strong foundation for successful lifelong learning and transitioning out of high school, the presenters said.
Throughout the course, students research careers and occupations, review post-secondary admissions qualifications, build resumes, complete job applications, develop interviewing skills and participate in internships.
Opportunities for involvement in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and service learning are an integral part of this class.
Mrs. Stoll said she uses a variety of resources to help students learn financial lessons including the Mimic Personal Finance simulation sponsored by the United Way of Logan County and the Logan County Education Foundation; the Next Gen Personal Finance Curriculum; arcade style games; MOVE activities, and the Everfi Financial Literacy program sponsored by Liberty National Bank. Scholarships are available to seniors who are Everfi certified.
The Benjamin Logan family and consumer sciences teacher also is retiring at the end of the school year.
More information about S.B. 1 can be found at https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=15511&format=pdf.