State drops financial literacy requirement. Washington school board balks

WASHINGTON — School board members at a meeting last week said they disagreed with Iowa’s removal of a financial literacy requirement from its curriculum guidelines.

Senate File 391, which passed last legislative session, allows schools to instead work the material into other courses, without holding a dedicated class on the subject. The curriculum content remains intact, holding that students must, one way or another, learn things like money management, investment practices, college planning, credit card debt, and types of insurance.

In Washington, however, educational decision-makers want the term-long course to remain a requirement for graduation. While Superintendent Willie Stone said the school could conceivably make the course an optional class, board members said they were skeptical.

“If there’s anything we want to get rid of up here, that’s the last one,” Board Member Mindi Rees said, referring to a list of the district’s graduation requirements.

The group briefly weighed the merits of allowing students to opt out of financial literacy to take other life-skill style classes, like some of the programs provided through Kirkwood at its nearby regional center.

Still, few signaled support for such a change.

“As a parent, looking at this, looking at what schools I want to go to, I’m like, ‘Oh, financial literacy, that’s great,’ that would attract me more,” Board Member Sonia Leyva said. “I feel like if it’s not required, the kids that really need to take it are the ones that are not going to.”

Stone said the board would revisit the subject at its next policy meeting.

Proponents of Senate File 391 said the legislation would allow flexibility for schools, especially rural ones facing staff shortages.

“Financial literacy standards will still be taught,” said State Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink when the bill was introduced to that body of the legislature in March. “It can be taught in one required course, or spread across several required courses.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com