April Financial Education Awareness Month

by Gloria Casas

April is National Financial Literacy Month is recognized in the United States as an effort to highlight the importance of financial literacy in increasing an individual’s financial capability. It is hoped that all Americans will begin to think and learn how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits.
In 2004, the Federal Government established the National Financial Literacy Month. The purpose of this action was to call on Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations business and the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities.

According to the Council for Economic Education, only 20 states require students to take an economics course, and only 17 states require high school students to take a course on personal finance. Although I wish this was 100%, I am pleased to share that Texas is among the states that is fully vested in this endeavor. The Texas Education Code (TEC) requires instruction in personal financial literacy in K-8 mathematics instruction and in one or more courses offered for high school graduation. Districts may use the list of Personal Financial Literacy materials, which were approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE). I am proud of Texas public education system; it is right in the mix of improving financial capacity and capability in our community.

Starting with the 2016-2017 school year, each school district and open-enrollment charter school that offers a high school program must provide Personal Financial Literacy (PFL) as a one-half credit high school social studies elective course. The standards for this course are in 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter C, High School, §113.49, Personal Financial Literacy (One-Half Credit), Adopted 2016.

There’s no better time than during the Financial Literacy Month, to galvanize all and arm ourselves with the tools to obtain and maintain financial strength. Let’s commit ourselves to shine a spotlight on the importance of economic and financial education and raise awareness of the importance of financial literacy by providing La Ferian and our surrounding communities, Santa Rosa and Santa Maria, an opportunity to learn more about financial sustainability.

I plan to personally spend this April’s Financial Literacy Month talking to you about financial education. I hope assist in closing the gaps that exist in the knowledge about this important topic that will allow individuals to have resources necessary to plan for financial independence and self-sufficiency through financial literacy.

I encourage all citizens, parents, teachers, community leaders, and others to seek ways to improve their own personal finance capabilities. I am currently working with the City of La Feria to establish a location to provide workshops that are aimed to improve the understanding of financial issues, such as credit management, savings, and homeownership. Please stay tuned for the first class that I hope will happen the second week in April.

In 2015, I was blessed to have become the first person in the Rio Grande Valley to become a Certified Financial Coach. I have been using these skills to build financial knowledge capacity in our RGV communities. I have provided presentation, staff development and workshops to Head Starts Programs, Parental Involvement, Church communities and Region 1 Migrant Advisory Board Members. I am scheduled to present at the National Migrant and Farmworker Conferences, on April 12 and 13th.

Research data has continuously proved “that it is never too early to educate people about how they can participate in a world that is becoming increasingly less cash-based and more interconnected than ever. “ Therefore programs geared programs to empower and assist individuals, families, consumer groups, small business groups and governments to learn how to get more from their money, are our only weapon. I am fully vested in endeavors that help foster the conversation around financial equality and how we can continue breaking down barriers in all aspects of society. Education is my life mission and financial education is right there with public education.

“Knowledge – including fiscal knowledge – is power.” Rev. Al Sharpton