Alongside the presidential election, another vote will be taking place this year in the U.S.—teachers are currently asking citizens to also help decide which students are worthy of a financial education.
Due to the fact that most teenagers gradate high school with little or no knowledge about managing their money, H&R Block Dollars & Sense is now offering personal finance curriculum to American high schools to help increase the financial fitness of teens.
The timing couldn’t be better. With financial literacy becoming a hot topic in both Canada and the U.S., citizens across North American are being urged to do their research about financial planners, know the tell-tale signs of fraud, and build up more confidence in their planning and saving abilities.
In addition, studies and research have been pushing for the proper financial education of women and children, with smart phone and tablet apps even being introduced to promote learning.
Read: How women learn about finances
In the U.S., teachers nationwide have eagerly applied for the Dollars & Sense grants that will enable them to teach financial lessons to teens, but determining the who gets the grants will be no easy task. The public is being asked to voice their opinions on behalf of the students in need starting in April.
Following the vote, 250 grant recipients will receive an online curriculum that covers lessons ranging from time management to budgeting, as well as avoiding debt.
Paul Phlieger, a teacher in Texas who has already received the program, said that it’s “a great tool that he wishes more teachers and students had access to” since all students can benefit from the boost in their financial education.
In the future, perhaps Canadians will have the chance to cast the same vote. As Jim Yih, blogger for Canadianfinanceblog.com and author, wrote in his financial literacy segment, “We must create more mediums for learning…[since] financial literacy [provides] the knowledge, skills and confidence to make responsible financial decisions.”