On Monday, state Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a proclamation recognizing April as Financial Literacy Month and highlighting the importance of healthy financial habits.
Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1054, Financial Literacy, which will require high school students earn at least one-half credit of instruction in financial literacy or money management and will teach students about banking practices, money management, credit scores, managing debt, loan applications, insurance policies and local tax assessments.
“While April is a great time for all Floridians to focus on their finances, it is particularly important to ensure that Florida’s youth are set up for financial success. As a father of two, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of teaching financial literacy at a young age and the positive impact it has in the lives of Florida’s students. That’s why for Financial Literacy Month, I am especially grateful to the Legislature for passing and Governor DeSantis signing Senate Bill 1054 that requires financial literacy to be taught throughout Florida’s schools. It is never too early to learn the value of the dollar, how to spend or invest those dollars wisely, and how to save those dollars for a rainy day. As Florida’s CFO, I remain committed to ensuring every Floridian has access to the tools and resources needed to obtain financial freedom to ensure their financial future is bright,” Patronis said.
The proclamation is below.
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, financial literacy is the foundation of your relationship with money, and is a lifelong journey of learning to be financially successful by knowing how to manage our money, develop a budget, borrow and save money responsibly, and investing and planning for retirement; and
WHEREAS, the world of money is constantly evolving, and our students need to have access to the most up-to-date information so our future leaders will be prepared with the education and knowledge to make informed financial decisions in order prosper in our society; and
WHEREAS, the Florida legislature recognized the importance of teaching our kids financial literacy at a young age by passing legislation during the 2022 legislative session requiring a stand-alone course that focuses on the basics of credit, budgeting, savings and investing so that our future generations will be equipped with the proper resources to be in a position to attain financial success; and
WHEREAS, Florida is now the largest state of 11 states that have instituted the requirement that all high school students take a course in Financial Literacy in order to graduate high school; and
WHEREAS, having financial knowledge and maintaining healthy financial habits empowers people to feel more confident about their financial wellness and sets them on a path of obtaining financial freedom; and
WHEREAS, the mission of Financial Literacy Month is to promote, advocate and support financial literacy efforts across the U.S., with special emphasis on kids and teenagers with a focus on an opportunity to identify money weaknesses and turn them into money strengths.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal of the State of Florida does hereby recognize April 2022 as NATIONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH and encourages all consumers to make smart money decisions and expand their knowledge of financial education.
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