The effect of a high school financial literacy course on student financial knowledge.

摘要

New Jersey school districts establish curriculums to meet the proficiencies found in the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (NJCCCS). The research focuses on the effectiveness of the Washington Township High School Career and Technology Education Department's curriculum in addressing the NJCCS Financial Literacy benchmarks. The quantitative study assessed 304 students using a 20-question consumer and personal finance multiple-choice assessment. The pre-test/post-test results were analyzed to: (1) indicate any growth in the students' financial knowledge and skills during the 2008--2009 school year; (2) to indicate if students participating in a Financial Literacy course score higher compared to the other students in the department courses; and (3) to identify if the current curriculum is satisfactorily meeting the NJCCS financial literacy benchmarks. The results did not indicate any significant differences in student knowledge scores for the experimental group and the control group. The results also did not indicate a significant difference in the NJCCC benchmark scores. The recommendation is additional data should be collected through a longitudinal study and an evaluation of the assessment as it relates to the current financial literacy curriculum.