Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Supports Financial Literacy for Montana Students

Office of Public Instruction
  • Brian O'Leary
  • July 15 2022

HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen acknowledges the importance of teaching financial literacy to our Montana students. In June, the Chapter 55 Negotiated Rulemaking Committee agreed with the Superintendent’s recommendation that financial literacy will be added as a requirement for graduation from Montana’s public schools. Today, July 15, a financial literacy presentation was given to the Montana Board of Public Education.

“The academic success of our students goes beyond classroom learning,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Financial literacy is an important aspect of delivering educational excellence to our Montana graduates. Teaching our students personal financial responsibility will strengthen their future and the future of Montana families.”

“As financial professionals, we believe that our youth deserve guaranteed financial literacy before entering the workforce,” said Mike Paffhausen, Montana State Board President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. “By empowering them to make good financial choices and avoiding the setbacks, we are giving them the best chance to succeed.”

“Montana has the opportunity to become the 16th state committed to increasing the financial capability of the next generation,” said Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance. “Jody Sandru, a teacher from Twin Bridges, is representative of the passionate and highly qualified Montana educators we have met who will ensure the successful rollout of this personal finance course statewide.”

“The world revolves around money,” said Carl Shaw, a sophomore at the University of Montana. “Decisions about our hard-earned money are required each day of our life. A personal finance education has the power to successfully impact students’ financial literacy and help them live a better life.”

The Superintendent’s recommendation requires all Montana high school students to complete a one-semester personal finance course prior to graduation. Free professional development courses are available to teachers. These courses prepare teachers for personal finance classes. The benefits of requiring personal finance courses are:

Currently, eight states have fully implemented personal finance courses as a requirement for high school graduation, and an additional five states are in the process of implementing these courses. Montana has 173 public high schools, with only eight high schools currently requiring personal finance courses for graduation:

  • Absarokee High School
  • Anaconda Senior High School
  • Box Elder High School
  • Hamilton High School
  • Polson High School
  • St. Ignatius High School
  • Sweet Grass County High School
  • Victor High School

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