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Minutes for HB2166 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Requiring personal financial literacy courses for high school graduation.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 12, 2019
Chairperson Huebert opened the hearing on HB2166 and invited Dr. Brad Neuenswander to share the current position of the Kansas Department of Education on Financial Literacy.
Dr. Neuenswander presented a Fact Sheet, the most recent survey of financial literacy programs (2016), a letter encouraging local boards of education to offer such courses, and the Financial Literacy Resources provided by the department. (Attachment 9)
Questions presented from the Committee were addressed.
Chairperson Huebert invited Oral Opponents to the bill to speak.
Opponent Mark Desetti stated that the issue of financial literacy is one of local concern. He noted that many times the Legislature wants to add courses to the schools in Kansas. He shared his daughter's high school schedule with the Committee to illustrate how many requirements there are. To add more requirements, while the subject may be important, means other classes will not be able to be on the schedule. Desetti noted that financial literacy could be incorporated into mathematics instructions at all grade levels. Making this a mandatory graduation credit has consequences. He also noted that predatory lending practices are a big issue that schools alone can not fix. (Attachment 10)
Opponent Erin Gould spoke as a parent and as an advocate for parents involvement in education. Her organization supports financial literacy but believes the specific curriculum should be left to the State Board of Education and local school districts. There may be unintended consequences to legislating graduation requirements. As a parent, she knows her kids have to make tough choices about what they study. Choice is important to parents. While she wants all students to be financially literate, this particular bill needs to be rejected. (Attachment 11)
Opponent Rob Gilligan expressed the views of Kansas Association of School Boards. KASB believes this type of legislation oversteps the responsibilities of the legislature. While they strongly support financial literacy, the decision for establishing requirements and curriculum are constitutionally assigned to the State Board of Education and local Boards of Education. (Attachment 12)
Opponent G.A. Buie, in a similar fashion, spoke for the United School Administrators who believe strongly in financial literacy, and are already aware of the importance of this issue. He stated that they are already implementing curriculum to meet their local needs, but a legislative mandate is not a helpful approach. These decisions are better left to the local level because each school district has different strengths and unique ways of offering these courses to students. (Attachment 13)
Opponent Dr. Martin Stessman spoke about the practical challenge of finding qualified staff to teach enough sections (if this were a graduation requirement needed by all students). At his high school, this would requirement them to offer 12 sections, and eliminate 9 sections of other types of classes, or hire a full time teacher. It would also affect losing electives presently offered in the business department. (Attachment 14)
Written only Opponents:
Monica Crowe, President, Kansas Parent Teacher Association (Attachment 15)
Justin Coup, Superintendent Solomon USD 393 (Attachment 16)
At this point in the meeting, Chairperson Huebert asked Revisor Jason Long to share a document he had prepared about the divisions of responsibility with the Department of Education, Local School Boards and the Legislature.
Jason Long described the relationship of the entities like a three legged stool. He stated there are not good "bright line" rules about who does what. There are grey areas. (Attachment 17)
Chairperson Huebert invited those who were Oral Proponents of the bill to speak.
Proponent Representative Renee Erickson, requester of the bill, taught business in public school for many years and understands the needs. No one is arguing, she stated, about whether this is appropriate for Kansas students. Poor financial skills have a tremendous impact on our kids. There are standards in place, and the State Board has encouraged financial literacy instruction in local schools, but Erickson questioned the effectiveness of the present system. She urged the Committee to stand firm and vote to pass this legislation as a way to get this vital information into the lives of students. (Attachment 18)
Proponent Walt Chappell argued that simple concept of Nike's motto: "Just do it" is applicable in this situation. When he served on the State Board of Education, and asked Kansas residents what they wanted in schools, they always requested personal financial education. The effort to mandate this type of instruction has spanned many years, and Chappell urged the Committee to finally take action. (Attachment 19)
Proponent Patrick Vogelsberg spoke from the perspective of real estate values. There is a growing rate of student loans that affects the choices that are available to young people in serious debt. The conferee noted that this burden delays life decisions. For instance, student loans can keep a young person or family from buying a first house for seven years, and a second house for three years. Financial literacy could help kids navigate debt. (Attachment 20)
Written only proponents:
Jake LeTurner, Kansas State Treasurer (Attachment 21)
Anita Kroeker, Teacher at Nickerson High School (44 years) (Attachment 22)
Congressman Ron Estes, US House District 4 (Attachment 23)
John Todd, Realtor, Wichita (Attachment 24)
A brief period of questions and answers took place.
The Chairperson closed the hearing on HB2166 at 3:11 and adjourned the meeting.
