Here's what's happening with personal finance across the country:

• Will the state of Florida require a personal finance course? (Tampa Bay Online):

Hukill, a Port Orange Republican, has been pushing to get this information into teens’ hands for five years. Her bill would remove the financial literacy material currently in the state’s basic economics course, and create a separate half-credit course that students would have to pass in order to graduate.

• NGPF Fellow, Jill Wilson, honored as Wise Gold Star Teacher; 93% of students passed the Wise Test (Post Independent)

"We consider financial literacy as important a subject for adolescents as English or mathematics," said Glenwood Springs High School Principal Paul Freeman. "Jill Wilson's class provides information and training sufficient for students to enjoy a lifetime of financial health."

• Union Catholic High School (NJ) teaching students about cryptocurrency (CNBC) 

Timothy Breza, a 28-year-old history and financial literacy teacher, first broached adding cryptography to his Business and Personal Finance class at the start of this school year. A few students had approached him in September and October, asking what he knew about bitcoin and other digital coins. [NGPF has a primer and a teacher-created lesson on Bitcoin.]

• Champlain College meets $170K challenge to deliver summer workshop for teachers (Vermont Biz)

The Champlain College Center for Financial Literacy has received a $170,000 grant from a benefactor who wished to remain anonymous that meets a $132,000 challenge grant from Next Gen Personal Finance, a non-profit organization that connects educators and students with free financial literacy resources. [Congrats to John for his commitment to educating Vermont personal finance teachers. We are ecstatic about the long-term impact your work will have!]

• Pottsgrove High School (PA) students to receive personal finance lessons (The Post)

Although Pennsylvania is among 33 states that does not require personal finance to be taught in its high schools, students at Pottsgrove High will have a series of opportunities this week and next to learn how to spend money wisely now and maybe even attract more money in the future.

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.

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