Strengthening education for every student

The change makes room for the personal finance course, which comes at the direction of the West Virginia Legislature. The Legislature approved a bill in 2023 to require the additional curriculum.

State educators have been working to establish the program, designing it to give local school administrators flexibility in how the class is offered and determine the needed hours to pass the class, according to WV MetroNews.

While we strongly support the additional graduation requirement — and would like to see even more credit requirements — we also agree with board member Debra Sullivan. She raised concerns about whether the subject would require a full year of instruction or would be better taught along with other subject matter.

“I definitely believe there are students who need background in personal finance. I’m just not convinced they need a whole year,” Sullivan said, according to MetroNews reporting.

“It’s important for the state Board of Education, along with the state Department of Education, to be the ones who are promoting changes to graduation requirements,” she said.

Sullivan’s points are well taken and should help to guide the board, as well as Department of Education leaders, as they consider other ways to improve the education system.

In this case, it took the prompting of lawmakers to get the project moving, which may not be ideal in procedure but hopefully will pay off handsomely for our students as they move into adulthood.

Handling finances — from balancing a checkbook to understanding the effects of long- and short-term credit debt — are essential life skills.

While some students may receive proper guidance from parents, guardians or mentors, others are on their own to navigate what can be tricky waters.