Assesment of preschool teachers' financial literacy skills

In this study, the aim was to assess the financial literacy skills of preschool teachers using the "Financial Literacy Scale for Preschool Teachers" developed by the researcher. A quantitative study was conducted with the aim of developing a new scale, using a cross-sectional survey model. The study was carried out during the spring semester of the 2022-2023 academic year and involved 312 preschool teachers working in private and public schools across Turkey. The data of the study were collected through the "Financial Literacy Scale for Preschool Teachers" and the "Personal Information Form." The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 25.0 software. The analyses of the data were conducted through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The reliability coefficient was found to be .94 using the Cronbach's Alpha method. In the final stage of the study, whether there was a significant difference between preschool teachers' financial literacy skills and their demographic characteristics (gender, age group, educational level, years of service, marital status) was examined. The results of the study indicated that the scale is valid and reliable. Moreover, preschool teachers possess a moderate level of financial literacy skills, and there are significant differences in financial literacy skills based on age, educational background and years of professional experience. However, no significant differences were found according to gender and marital status. The developed scale is considered to be an important measuring tool for educators and researchers. It is believed that measuring teachers' financial literacy skills and providing new insights will make a significant contribution to the field of financial literacy education.