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2021 Financial Literacy Report Card

NEW RESEARCH. SAME TRUSTED CONTENT.

WITH THE ADDITION OF PUERTO RICO

AS SEEN ON:

CNBC
Yahoo! Finance
MarketWatch
BusyKid
Business Insider
Financia Advisor Magazine
The Balance
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NOTABLE CHANGES IN OUR 2021 REPORT CARD

Nebraska
North Carolina
Alabama
Vermont
Rhode Island
Puerto Rico
The Problem

FINANCIAL ILLITERACY:

AN AMERICAN EPIDEMIC

Our nation is rapidly sinking into a sea of

debt and financial dependency.

And the crisis is growing.

Financial Literacy Repot Card | United States of America

THE SYMPTOMS

Accumulating
Oppressive

Debt

Oppresive Debt

Misusing
and Abusing
Credit Cards

 

Abusing Credit Cards

Inadequate or
Non-Existent

Savings

Inadequate Savings

THE RESULTS

Increased

Bankruptcy Filings

Increased Bankruptcy

Overdependence on Government

Government Dependence

No Retirement

Savings

No Retirement Savings
Financial Literacy

HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS EPIDEMIC?

It starts with educating our children
in the classroom.

The consequences of financial illiteracy manifest themselves throughout our society.

 

This national crisis may seem daunting and, at times, impossible to overcome, but the American Public Education Foundation thinks otherwise.

 

We believe financial literacy begins in the classroom at the earliest ages.

 

Together, we can embrace our responsibility to prepare the next generation for learning, for leadership, and for life, and change the course of their future.

American Public Education Foundation

THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH OF

FINANCIAL ILLITERACY

1.

16% of suicides in the US occur in response to a financial problem

3.

The U.S. ranks 14th in the world for percentage of financially literate adults

4.

High school seniors scored an average of 48% correct on a financial literacy exam

5.

Four out of five adults say they were never given an opportunity to learn about personal finance

6.

Only 16% of Americans from ages 18 to 26 are “very optimistic” about their financial future

7.

Only 1 out of 3 college students believe they will graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the workplace

8.

Lack of financial literacy cost Americans more than $415 billion in 2020

Click the numbers below for references to statistics:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

THE SOLUTION
Financal Literacy

MAPPING OUT FINANCIAL LITERACY

The Nation's Report Card grades each state in the United States, and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, in terms of K-12 financial education. These grades are based on currently available state-wide requirements, standards, and curriculum for personal finance.

Click on the states below to see an in-depth look at grades and statistics

GRADING KEY

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

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Maps

Fixing the problem begins with taking an honest look at where we stand with financial education.

LIST VIEW OF STATES' GRADES

 In order to achieve financially literate high school graduates, a state should have personal finance components embedded into K-12 standards, for each grade, and should ensure that each high school graduate has successfully completed a personal finance-specific course near the end of their secondary school career.

State
Grade
Report Card Findings
Alabama
B
Learn more
Alaska
F
Learn more
Arizona
C
Learn more
Arkansas
D
Learn more
California
D
Learn more
Colorado
B
Learn more
Connecticut
D
Learn more
Delaware
C
Learn more
District of Columbia
F
Learn more
Florida
C
Learn more
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AMERICA'S FAILING GRADE IN FINANCIAL LITERACY

BRN
American Public Education Foundation
The Nation's Report Card

ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE

The American Public Education Foundation has made financial literacy one of its core focuses over the next decade. With The Nation's Report Card initiative, our foundation is putting a spotlight on financial education in the classroom.

 

Our goal is to help ensure our next generation is prepared to handle their finances smartly, avoid debt, better understand our economy, and learn to make good decisions about their life and money.

About

DOWNLOAD THE NATION'S REPORT CARD

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