Upcoming national report to examine state of economic education in K-12 schools

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Throughout their lives, young people are required to make important economic and financial decisions. But according to a 2017 study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Program for International Student Assessment, 22 percent of 15-year-old students in the U.S. lack basic financial literacy skills.

That is why it is important to start economic and financial education at an early age, according to Jeff Sanson, executive director of the Indiana Council for Economic Education (ICEE), based at Purdue University. “Economics and personal finance are essential components in making sure students are college, career and civically ready,” Sanson says.

In early February a national economic report by the Council for Economic Education will be released, shedding light on the current state of K-12 economic and financial education at the national level and what work remains to be done. ICEE, the Indiana affiliate of the national council, will hold a news conference at the office of its sponsoring partner, the Indiana Bankers Association (IBA), to highlight the report results and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing K-12 economic education in Indiana.

The news conference will be held Feb. 16 at the Indiana Bankers Association, 8425 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Suite 155 E, Indianapolis. Light refreshments will be provided at 8:45 a.m., followed by the news conference at 9:15 a.m. Moderators are Sanson and Paul Freeman, executive vice president of the IBA. The event is open to all media and the public, including financial industry professionals, business and community leaders, policymakers and educators.

Topics will include:

* A snapshot of economic and financial education in Indiana.

* What works in economic and financial education.

* The role of the banking industry in economic and financial education.

According to Freeman, “The Indiana Bankers Association, as well as the banking industry as a whole, is committed to providing financial education programs and resources that help bankers make their communities better. Through our partnership with ICEE, we are able to invest in the success of the next generation of bank customers. We are extremely proud that funding for this vital research was provided by the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation.”

To RSVP for the press conference please contact: Shelly Surber, 765-494-8541, surber@purdue.edu. 

About the Indiana Council for Economic Education

The Indiana Council for Economic Education (ICEE), established in 1954, is a nationally recognized academic outreach center within the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. They lead a state network of partners including representatives from Agriculture, Education, Extension, Finance, Government, and Non-profit along with an eleven-institution network of university centers for economic education. ICEE helps K-12 teachers and youth educators teach economics and personal finance by providing engaging workshops and resource materials aligned to academic standards. Both the ICEE and the university centers are affiliated with the national Council for Economic Education. 

About the Indiana Bankers Association

The Indiana Bankers Association supports Indiana banking through issues analysis, professional education, and products and services that enhance financial institutions’ ability to help build better communities. IBA has partnered with ICEE since 1954 to promote and support economic and financial education for Hoosier students.
 

Writer: Kami Goodwin, 765-494-6999, kami@purdue.edu

Indiana Center for Economic Education (ICEE) Media Contact:

Jeff Sanson, 765-494-0188, jjsanson@purdue.edu 

Indiana Bankers Association (IBA) Media Contact:

Paul Freeman, 317-387-9380, pfreeman@indianabankers.org

To RSVP for the press conference contact:

Shelly Surber, 765-494-8541, surber@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications:

Darrin Pack, (765) 494-2722, dpack@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Darrin Pack, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, dpack@purdue.edu  
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