The Virginia Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) has been a strong supporter of the required course in economics and personal finance (EPF) from its inception.  The EPF Standards of Learning are essential life skills that will serve students well throughout their lives, regardless of their future vocation.  The content provides students with a foundational understanding of our free-market system.  Students learn how businesses operate and individuals participate in our global economic system.

For students to gain the knowledge and skills contemplated in this course, it is essential that they have a knowledgeable EPF teacher.  Thus, the Chamber supports efforts to ensure teachers who are new to teaching the EPF course have an educational background in the content.  The proposed Add-On Endorsement for Economic and Personal Finance provides minimal, but appropriate, educational standards for new EPF teachers.  The Chamber urges the Board of Education to approve the proposed add-on endorsement.

Thank you for your consideration.