Education Dept. Looks Into Course To Teach Students About Personal Finances

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — A course which teaches students about their personal finances and planning for the future could be put in place without spending a lot of money.

That's according to a report from the Florida Department of Education which was tasked with analyzing how much it would cost if the state wanted to require high school students to take a semester-long course that deals with their finances.

The report released this month shows that it could cost anywhere from $139,000 to $8 million in the first year depending on whether the state used books or relied on free online materials for the course.

A coalition of groups, including the Florida Bankers Association and the Florida Council on Economic Education, want legislators to require the course. The coalition contends the course will help prepare students for the real world.

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