"The success of this financial education bill will have a ripple effect on other states, especially because it passed unanimously in both the senate and house showing it is truly a bipartisan matter," Yanely Espinal, director of educational outreach at Next Gen Personal Finance said in an email."Everyone agrees that our students need and deserve 21st century relevant financial skills."Next Gen Personal Finance's bill tracker.
At least seven states, now possibly including Florida, require students to take a standalone personal finance course to graduate, which the nonprofit considers the gold standard of such education. More than 20 other states include some sort of personal finance education in their curriculum in different ways. In Arizona, a personal finance course can fulfill a math course requirement, according to Next Gen Personal Finance. In addition, some states, such as Tennessee, are now mandating personal finance courses for middle school students, as well as those in high school.
The activity shows that states are recognizing the importance of personal financial education for their students. While the coronavirus pandemic upended such education across the country, it also highlighted the importance of teaching solid financial habits.Money 101 is an 8-week learning course to financial freedom, delivered weekly to your inbox. For the Spanish version Dinero 101, click here.