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While mandates for financial education increase, educators lack preparation and self-perceived competence to teach personal finance. Hence, there is a keen need for professional development for educators in financial education. Consider the following:
* Public awareness of the need for financial education for youth and adults has grown in recent years. The availability of school-based and community-based education programs has increased.
* In public education, more than 80% of states across the nation have adopted some form of personal finance standards, guidelines, or instruction mandates.
* Research reported by the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy indicates that fewer than 20% of teachers and prospective teachers report feeling very competent to teach personal finance.
* Less than 3% of K-12 teachers...