The Echo

Students in Patty Knapp's Delaware Autism Program (DAP) classroom at Christiana High School have been working all year on financial skills. To increase their understanding and to help teach the value of financial literacy, Knapp presented them with a suggestion for how to teach their peers about the value of having financial skills. The students created a bill proposal and submitted it to State Representative John Viola to establish a Teen Financial Awareness Week in Delaware. Students enlisted the help of other DAP classes at Christiana, and many of the students wrote letters to accompany the proposal. Representative Viola created a concurrent House Bill to designate May 21-25 Teen Financial Awareness Week. He visited Christiana High School and spoke with students about the process the House resolution has taken. He has also invited students and staff to attend the House vote on May 16 at Legislative Hall in Dover. The bill will then move to the Senate and then the Governor.

In preparation for the successful passage of the bill, Knapp is coordinating with several organizations, such as Junior Achievement and the New Castle County Federal Credit Union, to provide materials for students to access during their lunch periods during Teen Financial Awareness Week. They hope to have tables set up during lunch periods for teachers that wish to bring students to access the materials, and students are also creating posters to display during the week.