Treasurer pushes financial education bill
Released May 6, 2005

          State Treasurer John Perdue spearheaded just-passed legislation that provides financial education curriculum for secondary public school use.

        Perdue attracted sponsorship and helped see through to fruition HB2837, which instructs the state Department of Education to “develop a program of instruction on personal finance . . .  in secondary schools.”

        Treasury and State Department staff members see the new curriculum as an addition to high school seniors’ Social Studies classes. Students would be initially exposed to basic concepts such as credit card management and savings and checking accounts, with more complicated topics to follow.

        “Through experience with my own high school and college-aged students and in my travels around the state I have noticed that our young people have very little knowledge or appreciation of finances,” Perdue said. “This is the first step in correcting that problem. I and my staff are very excited to be involved in such a project.”

        Gov. Manchin signed HB2837 into law in late April. Perdue has been trying to get such a law sponsored and passed for the last several years. He will need the State Department’s cooperation in shepherding the curriculum into secondary schools.

        “I certainly look forward to forging that relationship,” he said.

        Perdue’s financial education programs are presently active in 266 schools, comprising 29,500 students. The majority receive services through his “Bank at School” program for elementary students.

        The treasurer’s adult financial education programs are best exemplified by his Money Conference series, which have attracted approximately 5,000 attendees over the last four years. Adults are given advice by Boston-based financial expert Dee Lee, on a variety of topics.