Thinking about where to start when it comes to implementing the personal finance course guaranteed through SB349 and H5491? With more than 70,000 teachers using NGPF curriculum and more than 15,000 participating in NGPF professional learning, NGPF has become the trusted partner to ensure a successful implementation. 

Details about the bill: Great news! SB349 and HB5491 will guarantee that all Rhode Island high school students shall demonstrate proficiency in consumer education before they cross the graduation stage beginning with graduating class of 2024. In addition, By the start of the 2022-2023 school year, high schools shall offer a course that include includes instruction in consumer education, which that is aligned with the statewide standards. This bill was signed into law in March of 2021. 

Why is this important? As of October 2022, Rhode Island is one of 15 states that now are in the process of implementing or have implemented this guaranteed one semester personal finance course. It is also the largest in the nation to make this guarantee so the nation is watching for best practices on how to successfully implement this essential course at scale.  

Research has found that financial education has many beneficial impacts including: 

• Manage credit better with credit scores going up and delinquency rates falling. 
• Make better decisions about student loans including shifting to low interest loans from high, and you don’t rack up credit card debt, and you don’t use private loans, which are  more expensive.”
• Reduces likelihood of taking out expensive payday loans.
• Increased savings from teachers and positive spillover effects with parents too! 

How can teachers prepare to teach this course at no cost? 

• Earn professional learning hours through: 
• Certification Courses: Build your confidence in challenging content areas by investing only 2 hours per week; 11 different courses available, including Consumer Skills, Investing and Insurance
• On-Demand: Work at your own pace and on your own schedule with NGPF On-Demand with more than 40 one-hour modules available. 
• Live Virtual PD: Find resources you can use immediately with your students, collaborate with educators or attend a speaker series event every Thursday; five live events held weekly. 
• Review NGPF Curriculum
  • Used by 384 Rhode Island teachers today
  • NGPF's turnkey Semester Course, recently updated in the summer of 2022, makes lesson planning a cinch with each lesson including:
    • Discussion prompts
    • Engaging activities and Arcade games
    • Exit tickets
  • Already have a curriculum you enjoy? Check out these bite-size resources that will engage your students:
    • FinCap Friday: weekly current events video + quiz with 3 million plays to date
    • Arcade Games: More than 7 million game plays annually with 10 games currently available!
    • Questions of the Day: More than 700 bell ringers to choose from

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): 

What are the standards that will be taught in the course? 

Per the legislation, the standards shall may include, but not necessarily be limited to

• Installment purchasing
• Budgeting
• Comparison of prices
• Credit and the law
• Employment and income
• Rights and responsibilities in the marketplace
• Money management
• Maintaining credit
• Saving
• Investing
• Protecting and insuring assets
• Other personal finance or consumer economic topics of study

When do Rhode Island students need to demonstrate proficiency in consumer education?

Beginning with graduating class of 2024 and thereafter. Research has found that this course is best taught in the 11th or 12th grade when students are closer to major life decisions including life after high school, opening a bank account, obtaining a part-time job and starting to drive a car, to name just a few. 

My district leaders are interested in learning more about implementation strategies. Do you have any tips? 

Dr. Carly Urban from Montana State University interviewed states that have been through the experience of implementing this course at scale. Her findings have been delivered in this report, Best Practices Implementing Financial Education in High Schools. 

What guidance has the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) provided on the implementation of this course? 

The Rhode Island Department of Education has provided a webpage with a Financial Literacy Implementation guide with the following components: 

• Rhode Island Financial Literacy Standards
• High School Course information
• Visual to support LEAs
• Proficiency information
• Visual to support LEAs
• Professional Learning information
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Rhode Island school-based contacts
• Financial Literacy resource list - please note, this is not exhaustive and RIDE will not be updating this list frequently. 

Is NGPF PD approved in the state of Rhode Island? 

As of November 2022, 145 Rhode Island teachers have completed more than 4,000 hours of NGPF professional development which has been approved by districts across the state. 

Are there schools in our state already guaranteeing a personal finance course? 
The Got Finance? map provides insights on how hundreds of schools in your state are currently providing access to financial education. The Gold Standard schools are already guaranteeing that every high school student takes a one semester personal finance and may be useful thought partners as you implement at your school.

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