A couple of years ago I first mentioned that my state of Oklahoma was considering implementing financial education into the public-school curriculum.

Last year, our governor signed into law the Passport to Financial Literacy Act (related PDF), which I'm quite happy to see. Topics to be covered include:

1. Understanding interest, credit card debt, and online commerce;


2. Rights and responsibilities of renting or buying a home;


3. Savings and investing;


4. Planning for retirement;


5. Bankruptcy;


6. Banking and financial services;


7. Balancing a checkbook;


8. Understanding loans and borrowing money, including predatory lending and payday loans;


9. Understanding insurance;


10. Identity fraud and theft;


11. Charitable giving;


12. Understanding the financial impact and consequences of gambling;


13. Earning an income;


14. Understanding state and federal taxes.

'Tis a nice start, in my opinion. Now we'll see how seriously the school systems take it. As the parent of a pre-K daughter in our public schools, I'm sure I'll get to find out ... in about eight years. (Per the Act, personal-finance curriculum begins in the 7^th grade.)