TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Your finances aren't child's play, but some lawmakers want to start teaching kids about money in school at a young age. The proposal will be resurrected next year.
One big thing still being sorted out is when the class would start in Florida. Even supporters said if the bill passes in the spring, it will be very difficult to have a class ready for the following school year.
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The money course will be back on the table in 2015, but many said the standalone financial literacy class should already be in action.
Mark Anderson, with the Florida Council on Economic Education, said the money course can help students from going broke at a young age.
"Research overwhelmingly shows that student that come from states who require a course are less likely to incur debt and make risky financial decisions, and basically are more stable financially," said Anderson. "Credit cards and student loans -- those are things that kids are going to be facing right out of high school, and if they're not prepared to deal with it they're going to be facing the consequences of those bad decisions for years."
Financial literacy, which is currently taught along with social studies, would be a half-credit core high school class under the proposal.
The good news for supporters is the state's Department of Education said creating the class won't cost that much. The state estimates the class can cost as little as $200,000, or up to $8 million if they need a textbook for every student.
The bill had considerable support in 2014. Senate sponsor Dorthy Hukill lead the charge in her chamber.
"How do I sign a lease, what does it mean? What does a debit card mean? Kids are more in debt now than ever before," said Hukill.
The Senate wasn't the problem in 2014. The proposal failed to cash in with members of the House last session.