Start Financial Education Earlier
Introduce foundational financial concepts before high school to build financial understanding progressively.
Research into practice
Turning Research Into Action
Advancing practical, evidence-based approaches to financial education.
Our approach
Listen. Understand.
Move forward.
NCFLI uses original research to identify challenges in financial education and bring student perspectives into discussions with educators, school leaders, and policymakers.
Our recommendations focus on when students learn, how they apply their knowledge, and how learning develops over time. Research informs the conversation; collaboration helps turn it into practical next steps.
Our policy priorities
A practical agenda for financial education.
Prioritize Real-World Application
Emphasize practical financial decision-making through budgeting simulations, credit scenarios, investing exercises, and other interactive experiences.
Reinforce Financial Knowledge Over Time
Develop financial education progressively across grade levels rather than concentrating instruction into a single course.
Expand Community Partnerships
Explore partnerships with educators, community organizations, and financial institutions while preserving student privacy and educational independence.
Measure Meaningful Outcomes
Evaluate financial education based on students’ understanding, confidence, and practical financial skills.
Outreach & engagement
Bringing student perspectives
into the conversation.
Dialogue creates space to share findings and consider how financial education can better serve students.
North Carolina Council on Economic Education
Engagement around financial education and student preparedness.
Wake County Board of Education members
Discussions about the financial responsibilities students face beyond school.
Education leaders
Conversations about research findings and practical approaches to financial preparedness.
These conversations do not imply formal partnerships, endorsements, or adopted policy changes.
Published commentary · Carolina Journal
Late Lessons,
Costly Mistakes
Financial decisions begin before graduation. This opinion article considers why financial education should start earlier and be reinforced through real-world experience.
Read the Published Article