I recently joined NGPF as Chief of Partnerships & Adoption and am so excited to work with the team to advance our mission of financial education for all. Thanks to the efforts of lawmakers, educators, and advocates – including the NGPF Mission 2030 Fund (NGPF’s nonprofit advocacy affiliate) – there are now 22 states that guarantee high school students will take a semester course in personal finance before high school graduation. I will be leading our efforts to partner with departments of ed and school districts, supporting implementation of these personal finance graduation requirements to help ensure that policy translates to success in the classroom. 

With taking on this new role, I have been reflecting on some of the experiences that brought me here. Most recently, I was working for a nonprofit dedicated to increasing broadband access in schools. When the pandemic hit and home access gaps made it difficult – if not impossible – for many students to participate in remote learning, we helped states and districts address the broader digital divide during an unprecedented all-hands-on-deck time. Connectivity issues aside, there were of course many other fundamental challenges like some students having to prioritize working over learning to help support their families. 

Meanwhile, my reality – insulated by financial stability – was starkly different from the suffocating struggles that many were facing. It was not lost on me that my situation had been shaped by privileges like having a middle-class upbringing, graduating from college without being burdened by debt, and receiving at least a minimal financial “education” at home from immigrant parents obsessed with saving and creating a safety net. And that those without the same socioeconomic advantages also often lack access to financial education, whether at home or school. While there are no quick fixes for the underlying systemic barriers, it has become very clear that making financial education accessible to all should be table stakes.

A silver lining coming out of the pandemic is the increased push we are seeing from states guaranteeing personal finance courses, making significant progress towards the goal of all students having equitable access to a financial education. The proof will be in the pudding, however, and we at NGPF are committed to equipping educators so they can effectively empower students with the necessary skills to lead financially secure lives.

About the Author

Grace Ting

Grace joined NGPF as the Chief of Partnerships & Adoption, leading efforts to partner with departments of education and school districts to advance the mission of financial education for all.