Thursday, December 4, 2008

Victory for Michigan's Children!

Congratulations Personal Finance supporters! Personal Finance Education is now a reality for MI Students!

What a historic time in our State! On Tuesday of this week, Senate Bill 834 passed with 100% support from our Legislators! This bill will allow for school districts to offer a one semester personal finance class to fulfill a math credit. Local districts can decide who will teach the course. What a long fought victory due to the efforts and hard work of a great team. Each of you has served as a support some how over the years and for those efforts I am truly grateful.

On May 6th the MI Jumpstart Coalition will serve a meal once again to Legislators in the State Capitol and begin crafting legislation to require each student in MI to take a personal finance course prior to graduation. This we hope will compliment the current legislation.

With your help, we have come a long way in four years. In October 2007, the State Board of Education voted for personal finance education to be integrated in K-12 courses. Now with this new legislation we are beginning to give more children an opportunity to become financially savvy. The road ahead is not easy, but we will be persistent in helping build a stronger future for our most valued resource – our children. After all it is time.

We are very pleased to even have the State Treasury now as our newest MI Jumpstart member. Together we will strengthen long term self sufficiency in Michigan. Many thanks again for your support. I encourage you to thank your Legislators for voting “Yes”. Many thanks again for helping craft a hopeful future for our children.

Lois Gibbons - President Michigan Jump$tart Coalition