Monday, April 7, 2008
Governor Culver Calls For Passage Of Core Curriculum, Addresses Importance Of Financial Literacy
CULVER: “Our students deserve a comprehensive, rigorous education”
DES MOINES - Today, Governor Culver renewed his call to the Legislature to pass the statewide “Model Core Curriculum.” During a press conference in Des Moines, the Governor discussed Financial Literacy – a key component of the Governor’s Model Core Curriculum proposal – and its importance to Iowa students’ future success in the workplace.
Joined by Director Judy Jeffrey of the Department of Education, and Joanne Kuster, the Iowa Chairwoman of “MoneySmart Week”, Governor Culver said: “Financial literacy skills among Iowa youth will better prepare them for the workplace and improve their quality of life as adults.”
“It’s fitting we are having this discussion during ‘MoneySmart Week,’” the Governor said. “We are all seeing some disturbing national trends which can no longer be ignored. Home foreclosures have skyrocketed because people don’t understand the fine print in their contracts. The savings rate is negative, for the first time since the Depression. Personal bankruptcies are on the rise, and total American consumer debt reached $2.2 trillion in 2005 – more than doubling in the last decade.”
“These are national concerns, but here in Iowa, we can be a part of the solution to this crisis. I believe it starts with giving students the tools they need to make the right decisions. A comprehensive curriculum for math, science and literacy is critically important.” The Governor continued: “Equally important are social studies, and real-life skills necessary for the 21st Century, such as health literacy, higher-level thinking skills, civic literacy, employability skills and financial literacy. Our students deserve a comprehensive, rigorous education, and I encourage the members of the Legislature to get this bill to my desk as soon as possible.”
April 5-12 is the second annual statewide “MoneySmart Week,” a series of programs and classes sponsored by financial institutions, businesses and non-profit organizations, designed to help support financial education in Iowa. For more information, please visit: http://www.moneysmartweek.org/iowa.