'It's a lifelong experience.' Governors say financial education should extend beyond school years

cnbc.com:

Pursuing financial literacy is something that should continue beyond traditional school years, according to several state governors.

«We think it's a lifelong experience,» New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told CNBC's Sharon Epperson during Wednesday's event, Invest in You: The Governors Strategy Session on Financial Education.

Gov. Steve Sisolak of Nevada agrees about the importance of financial literacy.

«It's a skill that's necessary for your entire life,» he said. «We have to approach it more long-term in that regard.»

There are no federal guidelines for personal finance education in schools, meaning it's up to individual states to set their own rules. And there are 23 states that mandate a personal finance course for students, according to the 2022 Survey of the States from the Council for Economic Education.

In New Jersey, personal finance education is taught in middle school, and classes in financial, economic business and entrepreneurial business literacy is required to graduate.

«You need to get to folks while they're young, and that's the animating reason behind getting financial literacy education into our middle school curriculum,» said Murphy, a Democrat.

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Nevada students are taught about personal finance topics as a part of social studies class, generally starting in grade 3 and going through high school. In Mississippi, beginning this year, a college and career readiness class that includes personal financial education is required for high school graduation.

«Each state has to make their own decision