Financial classes added to Chicago curriculum

Mastering the skills needed to pay bills, balance a checkbook, and make car and mortgage payments will soon be required of Chicago public high school students.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman said Tuesday by next fall, "financial literacy" will be worked into the curriculum at the city's 116 public high schools.

According to Huberman, 45 minutes of financial education instruction is being given this week to 71,000 students. He said public school officials are working to incorporate that instruction permanently into the high school curriculum and making it a core requirement.

Chicago City Treasurer Stephanie Neely, who joined Huberman in announcing the plan, acknowledged it will be difficult to teach kids how to save.

Neely noted children are bombarded with thousands of commercials telling them to spend.