(photo courtesy of the Indiana State Teachers Association)

The Indiana State Teachers Association is calling for a required financial-literacy curriculum in Indiana middle and high schools.

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The ISTA is embracing an expanded version of a proposal first rolled out three years ago by Greenwood Senator Brent Waltz. ISTA president Nate Schnellenberger says teaching students financial basics from balancing their checkbook to the perils of credit-card debt can help with everything else they study, by showing a clear connection between the classroom and the outside world.

Waltz envisions instruction beginning in sixth grade with basic issues, and progressing through more complex issues as students head toward graduation. He's calling for a board of teachers and bankers to develop instructional guidelines and keep schools posted on what approaches are working best.

Waltz says he'll reintroduce the bill next year if he's reelected. He's one of the few Republicans the ISTA endorsed, in what's been widely interpreted as a slap at challenger Mary Ann Sullivan for her sponsorship of charter-school bills in the House. The race is one of a small number of competitive Senate contests this year.