The proposed amendments to section 15.1-21-21 of the North Dakota Century Code aim to enhance the financial literacy curriculum in schools. The bill mandates that each school district require students to complete one-half unit of financial literacy, ensuring that the curriculum for economics or problems of democracy includes exposure to various personal finance concepts. Key topics to be covered include budgeting and money management, saving and investing, credit and debt management, banking and financial services, taxation, consumer skills, insurance and risk management, college and career financial planning, retirement planning, and entrepreneurship.

Additionally, the bill allows the superintendent of public instruction to permit school districts to select alternative courses for teaching these financial concepts, provided they can demonstrate that the number of students exposed to the concepts meets or exceeds those under the standard requirements. The amendments also reflect a shift from offering financial literacy as an option to making it a requirement, thereby emphasizing the importance of financial education for students.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 15.1-21-02.2
Adopted by the House Education Committee: 15.1-21-21
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 15.1-21-21
Adopted by the Senate Education Committee: 15.1-21-21