A recent study by the World Economic Forum revealed that financial literacy in the U.S. has been hovering just below 50 percent since 2024. Pathway Financial Education, a nonprofit organization in Kansas City, is actively working to increase financial literacy in the community. LaTasha Jacobs, the executive director of Pathway, highlighted the lack of financial education in school districts across the Kansas City area, leading to a gap in knowledge for both teachers and students.
To address this gap, local student Katie Murphy is spending her summer developing a personal finance curriculum for students in Missouri as part of an internship with Harvard. Drawing from her own experience taking a similar class in Kansas, Murphy aims to create engaging activities tailored to Kansas City teens while meeting state standards. With a background in applied mathematics and economics, Murphy hopes to continue her involvement in education after completing her degree.
Murphy’s initiative to improve financial literacy among youth underscores the importance of teaching practical life skills in schools. By developing a curriculum that is both educational and engaging, she aims to empower students with the knowledge and tools they need to manage their finances effectively. Through partnerships between organizations like Pathway Financial Education and motivated individuals like Murphy, there is hope for a future where financial literacy is more widely accessible and understood.
