Students in Washington state aren’t required to take a personal finance class to graduate, but with the current economic crisis, more people want to make it a priority.

In response to an article I wrote this week for The Spokesman about financial literacy and children, Matt McAlvanah, press secretary for U.S. Senator Patty Murray, forwarded me some information about her efforts to make this happen.

The senator is currently leading the charge to pass major legislation that would help improve students' and adults' financial decision-making skills. Her website also includes information on financial and economic education.

Earlier this year, Murray along with two other senators introduced the Financial and Economic Literacy Improvement Act of 2009, which woud provide $250 million in grants annually to states to support teaching financial literacy in K-12 and two-and four-year colleges. 

Last year, Gov. Chris Gregoire also formed the Washington Financial Literacy Work Group to investigate ways to improve financial education throughout the state.

Only Utah, Missouri, and Tennessee require a one-semester course on financial literacy, while 18 states require personal finance be incorporated into other subject matter, according to this story from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

What do you think? Should financial literacy be part of basic education in Washington state? Should high school seniors be required to take a course on personal finance in order to graduate?

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