Although education has been put on the list of national priorities, the National Coalition for Consumer Education (NCCE) is concerned that consumer education in the school curricula has not been sufficiently emphasized. In April 1990, NCCE conducted a study through its network of coordinators to gather information on consumer education mandates, policies, and informal practices from kindergarten through grade 12, across the country. A written questionnaire, submitted to chief state school administrators, was followed up with either phone or in-person interviews to gather perceptions and specific information about issues within each of the states. Responses to the survey questionnaire were received from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey defined consumer education to include instruction in four areas: (1) consumer decision making; (2) economics; (3) personal finance; and (4) consumer rights and responsibilities. Study results show that although much needs to be done, more is happening in the schools than is readily perceived through a review of state mandates alone. Among the key findings are the following: (1) 31 of the 51 respondents have a consumer education policy; (2) in over two-thirds of the states the policy covers instruction in all of the four areas; (3) nearly all states that have policies report that at the elementary school level, consumer education is integrated into or part of a course; (4) secondary schools may offer a full semester course in consumer-related topics in 11 states; and (5) two-thirds of the states report that topics in consumer education are more likely to be discussed today than 5 years ago. (The survey questionnaire is included.) (NLA)