This bill amends current law to expand financial literacy instruction requirements to include high school students, in addition to the existing requirement for middle school students. It mandates that school districts incorporate financial literacy instruction into the curriculum for students in grades six through eight and requires that each high school student complete a one-semester course in financial literacy. The bill specifies that the instruction must cover a range of topics, including budgeting, savings, credit, debt, insurance, investment, behavioral economics, banking, consumer skills, taxes, and college financial planning. It also clarifies that instruction focused primarily on economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy will not fulfill the financial literacy requirement.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that for a State-endorsed diploma, district boards of education must develop and implement local graduation requirements that include the completion of the financial literacy course. It also stipulates that the instruction must be delivered by teachers holding specific endorsements in areas such as Business, Family and Consumer Sciences, or Social Studies. The bill 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