CONSUMER EDUCATION IS VITAL FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE COMPETENCE IT CAN PROVIDE IN DEALING WITH A COMPLEX, MODERN MARKETPLACE, BUT BECAUSE IT AIDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PHILOSOPHY FOR MANAGING PERSONAL AFFAIRS AND FULFILLING CITIZENSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES. IN A NUMBER OF STATES, THE PRESSURE FOR INCLUDING CONSUMER EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS STEADILY GROWING, WHILE SOME STATES HAVE ALREADY ACTED TO INSTITUTE A CONSUMER EDUCATION PROGRAM. FOUR GENERALLY ACCEPTED METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED: (1) INDIVIDUAL TEACHER APPROACH, WHICH FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COURSE TAUGHT BY ONE EDUCATOR; (2) TEAM APPROACH, WHICH SUGGESTS COMBINING THE EXPERTISE OF SEVERAL TEACHERS FOR TEACHING A SINGLE COURSE; (3) INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH, WHICH STRESSES THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCORPORATING CONSUMER EDUCATION INTO ALL COURSES IN VARYING DEGREES OF SOPHISTICATION; AND (4) SYSTEMS APPROACH, WHICH INVOLVES THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY AND PARENTS. THESE APPROACHES ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE AND MAY BE USED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF TEACHING METHODS THAT REFLECT A TEACHER-STUDENT LEARNING PARTNERSHIP, AND THE SUGGESTED CONTENT AREAS ARE THE CONSUMER AS AN INDIVIDUAL, THE CONSUMER AS A MEMBER OF SOCIETY, THE CONSUMER'S ALTERNATIVES IN THE MARKETPLACE, AND THE CONSUMER'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. EACH AREA INCLUDES SAMPLES OF VARIOUS TYPES OF ACTIVITIES WHICH HELP BRING INSIGHT AND MEANING TO SOME OF THE TOPICS COVERED, WITH THE ACTIVITIES ARRANGED ACCORDING TO GRADE LEVEL. THE ROLES OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, TEACHER EDUCATOR, CLASSROOM TEACHER, PARENTS, STUDENT, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN CONSUMER EDUCATION ARE ADDRESSED. INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES FOR CONSUMER EDUCATION ARE ALSO LISTED AND DISCUSSED. (RCB)