School officials discuss financial literacy education
Glendale school officials touted the importance of establishing college savings accounts for children as they initiated a new discussion about how they may be able to facilitate discussions about financial literacy.
“We know that when students go to college, they outearn students with a high school diploma. There’s an economic incentive. Those students are able to take care of their families,” said Glendale Unified Supt. Winfred Roberson Jr. “Us having this particular value is important.”
He pointed to research compiled by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Corporation for Enterprise Development, including findings that when students know that money is set aside for them to go to college, they anticipate attending college as a teen, and they perform better academically.
Glendale school board member Greg Krikorian expressed a desire to connect with local banks that can provide outreach to students about financial literacy.
Meanwhile, fellow board member Nayiri Nahabedian, who made the initial request for the board to publicly discuss children’s savings accounts, suggested that Glendale Unified form a committee “to begin conversations” on the subject.
Across Glendale Unified, most financial literacy programs take place in secondary schools.
Hoover High freshmen learn about finances in their guidance class, while Crescenta Valley High seniors cover the subject in an economics course.
Daily High, Glendale’s continuation school, offers an online elective course on personal and family finance.
At Roosevelt Middle School, a new stock market club will debut this year.
Roberson said he would like to see financial literacy education expanded to younger students.
“I think it’s our responsibility to turn over every stone that’s out there to say, ‘How do we get our students [college] ready?’ This is a non-traditional method,” he said.
Meanwhile, Armina Gharpetian, school board president, suggested the topic also be brought up with parents, and fellow member Christine Walters suggested school PTAs could help spread the message.
“I think the major portion of this has to do with educating parents,” Gharpetian said.
--
Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
