? The chairmen of the Kansas House Education Committee and the State Board of Education are urging local school districts to teach financial literacy.

Republican state Rep. Ron Highland of Wamego and GOP state board member Jim McNiece of Wichita signed a joint letter Wednesday to local school board presidents and superintendents.

Their letter said financial literacy is an essential part of a sound education.

The House Education Committee had hearing earlier this year on a bill to require students to pass a financial literacy course in 11th or 12th grade to graduate from high school.

But Highland and McNiece said in their letter that they’re urging districts to teach financial literacy instead of seeking a mandate. They said the state board and the House committee would monitor districts’ efforts.