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Financial Literacy and Financial Education in High School

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Handbook of Consumer Finance Research

Abstract

Increased interest in financial literacy among youth has put more focus on financial education in high school. Financial education offered in high school may be students’ only exposure to the subject and therefore it should provide instruction in basic finance concepts and decision-making skills that can be useful later in life. Recognition of the value and importance of financial literacy for youth has influenced curriculum and instruction in schools throughout the USA. Many states have included financial literacy in their standards or as a requirement for graduation. There are more programs devoted to teaching personal finance to high school students and national tests to measure the level of high school students’ financial literacy. This chapter discusses major developments in high school financial education, including personal finance coursework, content standards, testing, and research about state mandates and specific curriculum.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0402, USA

    William B. Walstad Ph.D.

  2. Department of Economics and Business Administration, Austin College, 900 N Grand Avenue, Sherman, TX, 75090, USA

    Ashley Tharayil Ph.D.

  3. Department of Economics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6708 Pine Street, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA

    Jamie Wagner Ph.D.

Authors
  1. William B. Walstad Ph.D.
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  2. Ashley Tharayil Ph.D.
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  3. Jamie Wagner Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to William B. Walstad Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Univ of Rhode Island, Transition Center, Department of Human Development and Family Studies,, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA

    Jing Jian Xiao

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Walstad, W.B., Tharayil, A., Wagner, J. (2016). Financial Literacy and Financial Education in High School. In: Xiao, J. (eds) Handbook of Consumer Finance Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28887-1_11

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