The Office of State Treasurer is committed to advocating for and strengthening financial education requirements and programming within the public education system. Local and national studies have found that students who take a financial literacy course have greater financial knowledge and improved behavior during their lifetime. Proper financial education teaches our youth critical financial concepts, and our robust and specific competency-based standards set us apart as the leader in the space. The state financial literacy graduation requirement equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed financial decisions and establishes a framework for Utah schools to provide quality financial education to students. In collaboration with the State Auditor, we released a report in 2018 evaluating the effectiveness of the graduation requirement, which found that Utah students who have completed the graduation requirement have better personal financial knowledge and make better behavioral choices than those who have not. The study also identifies opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the program itself to help further strengthen the financial skills of Utah’s young adults as well opportunities to enhance program oversight. A primary objective of the Utah Council on Financial and Economic Education (UCFEE) is to defend and strengthen Utah’s K-12 financial education requirements.Utah Stock Market Game
The Stock Market Game™ is a national program created by the SIFMA Foundation and is played in states throughout the U.S. The Office of State Treasurer is the program administrator for Utah schools and provides fee waivers for Utah teams to participate.
The Stock Market Game is a ten-week simulation of Wall Street trading that provides a framework for teaching Utah students about the American economic system. It is designed for classroom use to help students understand the stock market, the costs and benefits involved in economic decision making, the sources and uses of capital, and other related economic concepts.
The Stock Market Game is an adjunct to the instruction of economics and related concepts. It is intended to be a catalyst for further study of and interest in the American free enterprise system in various subject areas through the accompanying curriculum materials.
Other Utah Resources
Utah Saves Week
Utah Saves is a campaign that encourages Utahns to set savings goals and hold themselves accountable to those goals. Participants can pledge to save online at utahsaves.org to receive savings advice tailored to their goals.
Utah Saves Week 2023 is February 27 - March 3. Rep. Brady Brammer will read the declaration on the floor of the House and Sen. Ann Millner will read the declaration on the floor of the Senate on February 22.
Treasurer Oaks and Utah Jump$tart Coalition will visit schools to share the importance of saving with Utah Students, and the Utah Division of Securities is providing the public with information and resources to make informed decisions about their investments.
To promote educational savings, my529 is offering a special promotion to Utah residents who open a my529 account for a beneficiary new to my529 between February 1-28, contribute at least $20 and use the promo code 2023SAVE. At opening, my529 will add a $20 contribution. Click here to learn more.
UTAH SAVES WEEK VIDEOS COMING SOON!
my529
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged vehicle designed to encourage individuals to invest for future qualified higher education expenses. my529 is the official 529 plan established and sponsored by the State of Utah. It is a direct-sold plan, which means you can set up an account and make contributions by dealing directly with my529.
Utah’s 529 plan is one of the best in the country. my529 is one of only three plans to receive a Gold rating from Morningstar in October 2020 because of its low costs, strong stewardship, and exceptional investment options.
Learn more about my529: https://my529.org/why-choose-my529/.