National Economic Education Month
October 1 - October 31
About National Economic Education Month
National Economic Education Month is observed throughout October in the United States, promoting the importance of economics and personal finance education in schools and communities. Established in 2021 by the Georgia Council on Economic Education and subsequently supported by the Council for Economic Education (CEE), it is a month-long campaign to improve economic and financial literacy across the country.
What is National Economic Education Month?
National Economic Education Month is a US awareness campaign that runs throughout October, bringing together educators, economists, policymakers, and community organisations to promote better economics and personal finance education. The campaign is led by the Council for Economic Education (CEE) and its network of state affiliates, which collectively reach thousands of teachers and millions of students each year. The month includes teacher training events, classroom competitions, student video contests, and free resource releases designed to make economic education more accessible and engaging for learners of all ages.
When is National Economic Education Month?
National Economic Education Month runs from Thursday, 1 October to Saturday, 31 October 2026. It is a fixed annual observance each October in the United States.
Why National Economic Education Month Matters
Economic literacy is a fundamental life skill. Understanding basic economic concepts, supply and demand, inflation, interest rates, labour markets, and personal budgeting, enables people to make more informed decisions as workers, consumers, voters, and savers. Yet surveys consistently show that economic and financial literacy in the United States remains inadequate: the FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s 2022 National Financial Capability Study found that fewer than half of American adults could correctly answer basic questions about interest rates, inflation, and mortgage risk. The consequences of poor financial literacy include excessive debt, inadequate retirement savings, and vulnerability to financial fraud. National Economic Education Month supports the teachers and institutions working to change this and provides a platform for public conversation about why economics education matters. National Checklist Day on 30 October is a fitting close to the month, highlighting the kind of organised thinking that underpins sound financial planning.
How to Get Involved in National Economic Education Month
Whether you are a teacher, student, parent, or interested citizen, there are ways to engage:
- Use the CEE’s free resources – The Council for Economic Education provides free lesson plans, videos, and interactive tools on EconEdLink.org. These resources are designed for use in classrooms but are accessible to anyone.
- Attend a teacher training event – CEE affiliates in states including Georgia, Nebraska, and Oklahoma host professional development workshops for economics teachers throughout October.
- Enter the student video contest – CEE runs an annual student video contest where learners create short films explaining economic concepts. Check the CEE website for entry details.
- Talk to young people about money – Use October as an opportunity to have age-appropriate conversations with children and teenagers about budgeting, saving, borrowing, and the broader economy.
- Advocate for financial literacy in schools – Contact your local school board or state legislators to advocate for mandatory personal finance or economics courses in secondary education.
- Read an accessible economics book – Works like Tim Harford’s “The Undercover Economist” or Henry Hazlitt’s “Economics in One Lesson” offer engaging entry points into economic thinking for general readers.
- Check your own financial literacy – Take a free financial literacy assessment online to identify gaps in your own economic knowledge and find resources to fill them.
History of National Economic Education Month
National Economic Education Month was established in 2021 by the Georgia Council on Economic Education, which set out to create a nationally recognised month for raising awareness of the importance of economics and personal finance education. The National Day Calendar officially proclaimed the first National Economic Education Month in October 2021, with observations to continue every October thereafter.
The Council for Economic Education quickly joined the initiative, bringing its national network of state affiliates and its established reputation as the leading organisation for pre-K through 12 economics and personal finance education in the United States. CEE was founded in 1949 and now works with over 30,000 teachers annually, reaching approximately 5 million students each year through its programmes and resources.
The selection of October was practical: it coincides with the start of the new academic year’s curriculum delivery period, when teachers are embedding new subjects and frameworks into their classroom plans. October also contains Financial Planning Month, creating a thematic alignment between economic education and personal financial wellbeing.
Noteworthy Facts About National Economic Education Month
- The Council for Economic Education was founded in 1949 and now works with over 30,000 teachers annually, reaching approximately 5 million students.
- Fewer than half of US adults could correctly answer basic financial literacy questions in the FINRA Foundation’s 2022 National Financial Capability Study.
- Only 25 US states require a standalone personal finance course for high school graduation, leaving millions of students without formal financial education.
- National Economic Education Month was established in 2021 by the Georgia Council on Economic Education and recognised by the National Day Calendar.
- The Federal Reserve System operates one of the largest economic education programmes in the United States, providing free classroom resources, publications, and speaker programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Economic Education Month?
National Economic Education Month is a US October observance promoting economics and personal finance education. Established in 2021 by the Georgia Council on Economic Education, it is championed by the Council for Economic Education and its national network of state affiliates.
When is National Economic Education Month in 2026?
National Economic Education Month runs from Thursday, 1 October to Saturday, 31 October 2026.
How can teachers get involved?
Teachers can access free lesson plans and resources at EconEdLink.org, attend professional development workshops organised by CEE state affiliates, and connect with the CEE’s national network of economics educators. Many resources are mapped to national curriculum standards.
Spread the Word
Share resources, facts, and the case for better economic education throughout October with the hashtags #NationalEconomicEducationMonth and #EconEdMonth2026. Help ensure every student, whatever their background, has the economic knowledge they need to make informed decisions throughout their lives.
Related Awareness Days
- National Checklist Day – On 30 October, this day celebrating organised thinking and planning provides a fitting close to a month dedicated to economic education.
- Manufacturing Day – Observed on 2 October, this day highlights the economic contribution of the manufacturing sector, connecting economics education to real-world industry.
- National Fair Trade Month – Running throughout October, this observance applies economic principles to global trade justice, a natural connection for economics students.
Links
- Visit the National Economic Education Month website
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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