The Daily Delegate

By Elizabeth Velez

Our Youth and Government program offers both Department of Finance and California Investment bank programs focusing on business seeking and budget proposals. When people hear the term financial they often think it simply means learning about money. They aren’t wrong but financial literacy is much more than that – it is the ability to understand and implement financial choices into daily life decisions. 

Knowledge on Youth Financial Literacy

Delegates in the Department of Finance perceive financial literacy as highly necessary for others attending public schools. The importance of financial literacy for the youth is to prepare them for the future we are going to face.

As teenagers grow into young adults, they begin to face financial decisions that build their future. Financial decisions teenagers would slowly have to make include budgeting, savings and banking accounts, and understanding debts. Of course there is much more to learn about, but this is just the beginning.

A Financial Literacy Course Sooner?

The state of California, specifically the governor approved the Assembly Bill. No 2927. This bill initiates a financial literacy course to be taken as a stand-alone semester course in personal finance. Although, the financial literacy course will become a graduation requirement for the 2030-31 school year.

Meanwhile it will start commencing into the 2027-28 school year. The bill will provide many resources towards financial education and students’ future decisions. 

The decision to require a financial literacy course beginning in the 2030-31 school year is far too late delayed. Four to five is an incredibly unreasonable time period for California’s Government to implement a course that prepares students for real life financial responsibilities in the future and present. Students graduating from now to 2030 won’t benefit and it’s not their fault.

Delegates Speak

Samya Van Valer, a Deputy Director of Department of Finance Committee Red, shared “Being in the Department of Finance has opened my eyes to really where our money is going” expresses the knowledge that being in DOF has increased her awareness of where money is going and how to be more conscious about finances.

Inspirations that truly motivate you to be financially wise would be your parents. Leading us to, Joshua Her, a Deputy Director of Department of Finance Committee Red, says “I enjoy being financially literate, it is being economically knowledgeable and make economically smart choices in life and how to pass it knot the next generation and educate them.”

Her encourages others to take on a financial course earlier on than recommended as it informs you to be economically knowledgeable, make smarter choices and benefit our future youth.

Lastly, Nathan Ramirez, a delegate of California Investment Bank, reports “In the real world, the government will invest more and more in companies, and the people should have a valid, logical view on that matter.”

Ramirez strongly feels our youth should be immediately informed and updated on the logical financial decisions the government invests in and changes the education of us.