Advancing F.L.E.C. Subjects:
Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Career Readiness

FLEC subjects represent the cornerstone of education that directly affects financial well-being and workforce readiness. Despite the critical need for skills like managing money and building careers, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career education remain overlooked in most school systems. High school curricula often fail to prepare students for the financial and professional challenges of adulthood.

The United for Financial Literacy Advocacy Committee advocates for teaching these essential subjects, equipping young people with the tools to secure their financial futures and broaden their opportunities.

What Are F.L.E.C. Subjects?

F.L.E.C. subjects empower youth with the practical skills they need to succeed financially and professionally:

Financial Literacy

Teaches individuals how to make informed financial decisions and build sustainable habits for managing their money.

Entrepreneurship and Career Education

Instills the skills necessary to earn a living, navigate career paths, and achieve long-term financial goals.

Learning From STEM’s Playbook

The success of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) advocacy provides a valuable model for F.L.E.C. subjects. With billions in funding and widespread curriculum integration, STEM occupies a significant portion of students’ educational time. Yet STEM-related jobs account for just 6.4% of the workforce, with only a slight increase projected by 2033.

While STEM careers are essential for innovation, their direct applicability remains limited for most students. By contrast, F.L.E.C. subjects – focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness – offer universal value. Every student benefits from learning how to manage money, pursue meaningful careers, and achieve financial independence. By adopting the advocacy strategies that elevated STEM, F.L.E.C. education can gain positioning as an equally critical priority.

6.4%

STEM-Related Jobs as a Percentage of Total Employment – Bureau of Labor Statistics

Addressing the Gaps in Today’s High School Curricula

The lack of comprehensive F.L.E.C. education is a national concern:

Financial Literacy

Though mandated in about half of U.S. states, students typically receive fewer than 20 hours of instruction – far below what’s needed to build true financial competency.

Entrepreneurship

No state currently requires standalone entrepreneurship courses for graduation, leaving students unprepared to explore or pursue entrepreneurial paths.

Career Readiness

While Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses provide some students with opportunities to explore job pathways, most lack the resources and guidance needed to prepare young people for the modern workforce.

Why F.L.E.C. Education Matters

The purpose of education is to prepare students for self-sufficiency and meaningful contributions to society.

F.L.E.C. subjects are uniquely positioned to achieve this goal by providing practical, real-world knowledge that has direct impact on students’ lives. They teach every student how to earn, manage, grow, and protect their money – skills vital for success in a rapidly evolving world.

Unlike traditional coursework, which may benefit only specific career paths or have limited practical application, F.L.E.C. subjects are universally relevant. Prioritizing these subjects ensures that students are prepared to navigate challenges and seize opportunities, creating a generation equipped to thrive.

Sign the Petition to Encourage FLEC Subjects in Schools

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NFEC’s United for Financial Literacy Campaign Champions F.L.E.C. Education Nationwide

Become a Part of the United for Financial Literacy Advocacy Committee

The United for Financial Literacy Advocacy Committee was established to support educators teaching financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness, while also highlighting the critical importance of these subjects for the financial health of individuals and communities nationwide.

Alliance members urge educators, policymakers, parents, and citizens to prioritize F.L.E.C. education as an essential part of school curricula, ensuring students from elementary to high school are prepared for financial and professional success.

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https://www.FLECsubjects.org

https://www.financialeducatorscouncil.org/FLEC-subjects/

https://www.financialeducatorscouncil.org/flec/

https://www.financialeducatorscouncil.org/flec-alliance/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jrCzpStzkU&t=115s

National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education

Teaching Financial Literacy: How to Help

F.L.E.C. Education

F.L.E.C. education focuses on areas that have a direct impact on the financial health of our nation’s youth including Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and Career Education.

Current public school educational mandates leave students unprepared for the financial realities of life. Everyone needs to know how to earn income and manage their money – yet these subjects are rarely taught in schools. High school graduates will leave school lacking key personal finance skills, a problem that could lead them down a path of long-term financial insecurity.

Why F.L.E.C. Education?

Public schools still neglect to teach important money management skills, which can have a huge impact on young people’s ability to find jobs and reach their true earning potential. Most students will lack important knowledge that could help them land career positions. Other graduates may even miss out on a possible career field.

This omission also affects the lifestyles they’ll be able to enjoy in the future. F.L.E.C. educational topics ensure that youth have the knowledge and adopt the behavioral habits that will help them earn enough income to address their daily needs, while they prepare to live the future lifestyles they envision.

F.L.E.C. topics are directly correlated with young people’s capability to earn income and manage money. But very few schools teach these key subjects. F.L.E.C. topics include Financial Literacy education, which covers the knowledge and behaviors people need to make qualified personal finance decisions; and Entrepreneurship and Career education, which forms the skills foundation required to reach one’s earning potential – gaining income to meet short-term needs and reach long-term goals.

Financial Literacy Scholarship Application