We continued to see additional bills introduced in 2022 to increase access to financial education since our last update. As of February 16, 20 states have already filed 40 bills related to personal financial education. In the past three years, the number of states that guarantee high school students will take a one-semester personal finance course has doubled from 5 to 10. By 2021, Nebraska, Rhode Island and Ohio have made that commitment.
Check out the NGPF FinEd Bill Tracker for the full list of bills entered in 2022 or carried forward from 2021.
The financial education movement continues to arouse great interest, as evidenced by these recent media outlets:
Popular New Florida Bill Would Require Financial Literacy Classes Before High School Graduation (Ask Flagler): “A new piece of legislation making its way through the state legislature would make financial literacy courses a requirement to graduate high school. is still a ways to go, but the bill has received near-unanimous support at every stage of its development…” Wisconsin doesn’t need a personal finance course to graduate from high school. A new proposal seeks to change that (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel): “Jajuan Hoskins, a senior at Rhinelander High School, didn’t hesitate when state lawmakers asked him to rate the importance of his personal finance course.” definitely rate number one,” he said. “Finance is a big part of adulthood.” His two classmates, who also testified before the state’s education committee, quickly agreed. The students and their financial education teacher, Patrick Kubeny, spoke at the Capitol this week in support of a proposal to make a personal finance course a graduation requirement for all students in Wisconsin.”
Check bills? Savings? Schools should teach every child about personal finance (Op-Ed in Seattle Times by educator Lisa Williksen): “I’m a high school math teacher, but the course these young people refer to is personal finance. This course inspires students from all walks of life. the population of life to build positive financial habits, strengthen their relationships, pursue successful careers, invest for the long term and more. It is the most hands-on course a young person can take today.”
Maryland lawmakers looking to tackle financial literacy for 11th, 12th grade (WMDT) public school students: “When Maryland students finish high school, they walk away with a degree. But what lawmakers and financial experts say those graduates say are missing are important lessons on how to manage their money. “We need people who, when they get out of high school, understand the importance of saving, the implications of financing, how a credit card works, how interest rates are raised” , said Deputy Wayne Hartman.
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Watch NGPF’s Got Finance? School Tracker to learn more about accessing financial education at over 10,000 high schools.
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Are you interested in expanding access by introducing a personal finance elective at your school? Be sure to check out the NGPF grant programs.
About the author
Tim Ranzetta
Tim’s savings habits started at 7 a.m. when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which lasted nearly a year, led to Tim getting to know the bank clerks quite well (and building a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures include driving a chipper, analyzing compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies, and helping families make better college funding decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to establish a personal finance program and teach at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him. to start a new nonprofit, Next Gen Personal Finance. †
This post NGPF FinEd Bill Tracker (from 2/16/22)
was original published at “https://www.ngpf.org/blog/advocacy/ngpf-fined-bill-tracker-as-of-21622/”
