This bill amends existing law to expand financial literacy instruction requirements to include high school students, in addition to the current mandate for middle school students. It specifies that school districts must incorporate financial literacy instruction into the curriculum for students in grades six through eight and mandates that each high school student complete a one-semester course in financial literacy. The bill also clarifies that instruction focused primarily on economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy will not fulfill the financial literacy requirement.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the content that must be included in the financial literacy curriculum, which now encompasses topics such as behavioral economics, banking, consumer skills, taxes, and college financial planning. It also stipulates that the instruction must be delivered by teachers who hold specific endorsements in relevant subject areas. To ensure compliance, district boards of education are required to develop and implement local graduation requirements that include the completion of the financial literacy course for a State-endorsed diploma. The act is set to take effect immediately, with the graduation requirement applying to students entering 12th grade in the 2027-2028 school year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:35-4.34