This bill mandates that high school students in New Jersey receive instruction in financial literacy, expanding the current requirement that only applies to middle school students. The legislation amends existing law to require school districts to incorporate financial literacy into the curriculum for grades six through eight and introduces a new requirement for high school students to complete a one-semester or one-trimester 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, college financial planning, and accounting. It also clarifies that courses focused primarily on economic, business, and entrepreneurial literacy do not fulfill the financial literacy requirement.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that for a State-endorsed diploma, local graduation requirements must include the completion of the financial literacy course. The instruction is to be delivered by teachers who hold the appropriate endorsements, ensuring that students receive quality education in this essential area. The bill is set to take effect immediately, with the graduation requirement first applying to students entering 12th grade in the 2027-2028 school year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:35-4.34