Economic Education is Crucial to Empowering Florida’s Future

Florida stands as one of the nation’s economic powerhouses, with thriving tourism, agriculture, technology, and aerospace industries. Although the state is thriving economically, are Floridians? While Florida boasts an impressive GDP growth rate and resilience, many students and adults in Florida’s lack the education and skills to make every day economic decisions. In fact, recent studies have shown that most Floridians miss the mark when it comes to a well-rounded economic education.

Today concludes Economic Education Month, a time to raise awareness of the need for economic education in Florida’s classrooms.

Lack of economic education can have significant consequences at the individual, societal, and global level. These consequences include financial instability, inequality, ineffective policy choices, limited civic engagement, and reduced entrepreneurship. Floridians will face these same consequences if we do not continue to teach future generations the skillsets and knowledge they need to contribute to a healthy economy.

Here at The Florida Council on Economic Education, we recognize that the education students receive in the classroom depends on Florida’s educators being equipped with high quality training and resources. If teachers are equipped with the resources they need, they will have a profound impact on their students’ economic education.

This is why we are at the forefront of efforts to ensure that Florida’s teachers are fully equipped to best educate students. By offering teacher training programs, curriculum development, and classroom materials free of charge to Florida’s teachers, we’re ensuring that over 200,000 students a year in Florida receive a comprehensive education that exposes them to vital economic concepts. These resources empower educators to equip students with the knowledge they need to navigate the financial challenges of adulthood successfully.

Economic education not only empowers individuals to make informed decisions but also contributes to a more prosperous and economically resilient society. It extends beyond personal finance: fostering critical thinking skills, encouraging civic engagement, and helping students understand the broader implications of economic policy decisions. In fact, studies show that of students who take a personal finance class, 87% of them feel confident in their ability to invest for their future. In a rapidly changing world, these skills are more valuable than ever.

Let’s take Economic Education Month beyond October and prioritize the need for economic education in our state. We must invest in economic education to empower the next generation and ensure a prosperous future for Florida. Together, we can