February 14, 2019— Northern Kentucky University’s Center for Economic Education (CEE) announces an Economics and Financial Literacy Education Micro-Credential to address a new requirement passed by the Kentucky Legislature. House Bill 132 set financial literacy standards as a requirement for graduation starting with students entering ninth grade in 2020.
Housed in the Haile/US Bank College of Business, CEE’s new micro-credential will provide educators with the content and methods required to teach economics and personal finance to K-12 students– something currently not offered anywhere else within the state of Kentucky.
“Teachers will finish the program understanding how to engage their classroom with financial literacy, but there is also an added benefit for their students and the school,” said Dr. Abdullah Al-Bahrani, director of NKU’s CEE. “Once they complete the micro-credential, educators can to apply to teach Pathways to Financial Success, NKU’s financial literacy course, to their students for dual credit at any state school.”
The Economics and Financial Literacy Education Micro-Credential follows national standards and will be aligned to Kentucky’s new standards once they are announced in May. It ensures all Kentucky high schools can implement the required financial literacy standards.
Amy Razor, executive director of Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (NKCES), recommends districts to send their teachers through CEE’s micro-credential, “This micro-credential, along with the current on-going support provided by NKU’s Center for Economic Education, will be a needed resource for our districts and region. With limited professional development funds and gaps in content knowledge for financial literacy, this will be a valued commodity.”
The micro-credential consists of two courses Economics and Financial Literacy for Educators and Teaching Economics and Financial Literacy Topics, with offerings beginning in June. The courses will be delivered in a hybrid format lasting four-weeks and plans are underway to create a fully online curriculum.
“We are excited to meet the need of financial literacy in high schools,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, interim dean of the Haile/US Bank College of Business. “Learning to manage money is key to financial success as an adult. The Haile/US Bank College of Business is proud to be the first to market a program that aids educators in delivering this important content.”
The CEE promotes financial literacy and economic education through direct training and partnerships with teachers at all levels (K-16). By providing educators with the resources and curriculum, the center helps bridge the gap of professional development and supporting Kentucky teachers. For more information about participating in the Economics and Financial Literacy Education Micro-Credential, please call (859) 572-5799 or visit its website.
About the Haile/US Bank College of Business: With more than 2,000 students, the Haile/US Bank College of Business’ goal is to educate and connect with the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati business community by delivering globally relevant, innovative and sustainable programs and practices. The college offers 12 undergraduate degrees and three masters level programs. For more information, visit its website.
About NKU: Founded in 1968, we are a growing metropolitan university of more than 14,000 students served by more than 2,000 faculty and staff on a thriving suburban campus near Cincinnati. Located in the quiet suburb of Highland Heights, Kentucky—just seven miles southeast of Cincinnati—we have become a leader in Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky by providing a private school education for a fraction of the cost. While we are one of the fastest growing universities in Kentucky, our professors still know our students' names. For more information, visit nku.edu.
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