Ohio's high school students should soon have the opportunity to learn the basics of saving and investing through a new high school teaching guide, Director of Commerce Gary C. Suhadolnik and Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Susan T. Zelman announced today. The announcement was made in conjunction with Saving And Investing Education Week in Ohio.

Director Suhadolnik and Superintendent Zelman held a news conference today to highlight the "Financial Literacy 2001 Project," which includes the "Basics of Saving & Investing: A Teaching Guide." The new teaching guide was developed by the Investor Protection Trust, the North American Securities Administrators Association (of which Commerce's Division of Securities is a member), and the National Association of Securities Dealers in conjunction with Eastern Michigan University.

"We have a financial literacy crisis in this country and what today's young people don't know can hurt them," Director Suhadolnik said. "Through this teaching guide, we are working to ensure that our young people are prepared for today's complex financial arena."

In Ohio, the teaching guides are being distributed by the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Securities. The department is working with the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Council on Economic Education to ensure that the teaching guides are distributed to the educators who can best use them.

"The teaching guide can be used as the framework of a short course or a supplement to an existing course in mathematics, home economics, business education, economics, and personal finance," Superintendent Zelman said. She also pointed out that the teaching guides can teach students:

• how to design a personal financial plan

• how financial markets work

• how to select among various savings and investment options

• how to find and use investment information

• how to recognize and protect against investment fraud

Director Suhadolnik noted that every time he shows the teaching guide to someone new, they immediately exclaim: "I wish someone had taught this to me when I was in school!"

Dr. Zelman said that the Ohio Council on Economic Education is planning a seminar for Ohio's economic education coordinators so that they can train the state's teachers to use the teaching guide.

As another feature of Saving And Investing Education Week, Ohio Securities Commissioner Thomas E. Geyer announced the creation of a new coloring book to highlight the importance of saving and investing. It is titled: "Billy and the Basketball: A Coloring Book about Saving Money." A copy of the coloring book will be mailed to each school district in the state.

During Saving And Investing Education Week and throughout the year, Ohioans can request the new coloring book and the other free investor education publications available from the Division of Securities by calling 1-800-788-1194. The coloring book and many other publications can also be accessed on the division's web site at www.securities.state.oh.us

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