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Kennewick board adopts financial-literacy curriculum, funds classroom and digital sets with grant support
Summary
The Kennewick School District board unanimously approved a recommended financial‑literacy instructional program and a six‑year materials plan, supported by a $144,000 grant; the district will develop a competency assessment and integrate materials with Schoology.
The Kennewick School District board voted to approve a recommended financial‑literacy instructional resource and a six‑year materials plan intended to support a new graduation requirement for incoming high‑school students.
The curriculum presenter recommended the district adopt Foundations of Financial Literacy (vendor named in the meeting as "Goodhart Wilcox") after a multi‑year review and a committee evaluation that rated it highest in standards alignment and currency. The presenter said the district received a $144,000 financial‑literacy grant and proposed using it to purchase classroom and digital sets for six years while career‑ and technical‑education funds would cover future updates.
The presenter summarized the review process and rationale, saying the chosen resource covers units on personal finance, income and taxes, banking, saving, credit, housing, buying a car and career exploration and noted it includes modern topics such as Venmo and Bitcoin. Board members pressed on how the district will keep the material current; the presenter said the district will require contract language for digital updates and limit the initial contract to six years to allow more frequent review.
Board discussion also touched on a competency assessment the district is drafting so students who already demonstrate proficiency can test out. "It would be like the PE competency, the computer competency," the presenter said, describing a study guide and testing windows.
A motion to adopt the recommended materials and proceed with implementation carried on a 5–0 vote. The board also recorded that the instructional materials committee had recommended the adoption unanimously. The chair announced, "Motion passes 5 0."
What happens next: staff will finalize procurement details, the district will complete the competency assessment and provide a timeline for classroom rollout and feedback collection during the first years of implementation.
Quoted from the meeting: "We were awarded $144,000. We've just been waiting, and we wanted to use that with this recommendation," the presenter said, describing the funding source for the initial materials purchase.
Speakers quoted or cited: Curriculum presenter (instructional materials recommendation), Abby Madsen (mentioned as director of career and college readiness who led parts of the process), and multiple board members during discussion.
Background and context: The proposal follows a district feasibility study and a state interest in making financial literacy a graduation requirement; the presenter said the district intends the requirement to begin with the incoming freshman cohort (referred to in the meeting as the class of 2030).
