Representative Paris urges state standards for elementary financial literacy

Representative Paris presented a one-page bill asking the State Board of Education to adopt content standards for instruction in financial literacy and money management targeted at grades 4 and 5.

Paris said the proposal grew from conversations and personal observation that many children lack basic currency and money-management knowledge. She noted that 26 states already require financial-literacy instruction at upper grades (typically middle or high school) and argued for introducing age-appropriate concepts earlier — saving, budgeting and basic currency recognition — to build long-term capability. Paris discussed starting instruction at 4th grade but said committee members had suggested the program could begin earlier and extend through 6th grade.

Committee members and the chair expressed support for financial-literacy education and suggested coordination with Chairman Erwin and others to refine grade levels and standards. No public witnesses provided extended testimony on the measure at the hearing. Representative Paris said the bill’s implementation date in the draft may be ambitious and indicated openness to study options or refinement.

The committee took no recorded roll-call vote in the excerpted hearing but committee leaders encouraged Paris to work with staff on details and next steps.