When the New Hampshire Board of Education (BOE) first voted to approve the use of PragerU’s financial literacy course, the decision was met with protests and political drama.
Teachers unions and Democratic politicians teed off on PragerU, the BOE, and Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut, denouncing PragerU’s content as “right-wing” extremism designed to destroy public education.
“I am appalled by today’s Board of Education decision to allow PragerU to operate in New Hampshire,” Democratic candidate for governor Joyce Craig said at the time. “I will fight for every child in our state to receive a quality education, and I will never allow an extreme right-wing organization to influence their learning.”
But a year later, the Board of Education voted with little fanfare Monday to renew its approval for the conservative nonprofit’s financial literacy course, called “Cash Course,” for the next five years. The politicians and protesters who insisted the course would undermine New Hampshire’s public education were a no-show for Monday’s vote.
The half-credit course will continue to be part of the state’s approved Learn Everywhere offerings.
“It’s a strong program, I just wish there was more to it,” Board of Education chair Drew Cline said. He urged the board to give just a quarter-credit to students who complete the course.
Learn Everywhere is a program unique to New Hampshire that allows students to earn credit for learning outside the classroom. That can include music classes, martial arts programs, and robotics clubs. Each Learn Everywhere offering must first get state approval before students can start earning credits.
Cash Course is a personal financial literacy program for teens taught through a series of web videos and worksheets. PragerU’s Dzana Homan told the board the handful of students who have taken the class, and their families, are positive about what they learned.
“We are getting fantastic reviews from students who are completing the program,” Homan said.
Critics of the Cash Course content have largely ignored the specifics, instead focusing on the source — conservative content provider PragerU, founded by writer and radio talk host Dennis Prager. PragerU bills itself as “the world’s leading conservative nonprofit that is focused on changing minds through the creative use of digital media.”
But the Cash House program steers clear from any culture-war hot buttons and sticks to teaching teens the basics of bank accounts, paychecks, loans, and investments.
The Learn Everywhere program is of a piece with the state’s Education Freedom Accounts, which are designed to give parents and students more choice and flexibility. They reflect the philosophy of Edelblut, a free market advocate who supports parental rights. Craig, who opposes the EFA program and parents-rights legislation, has already pledged to replace Edelblut if elected governor.
