Report shows access to personal finance courses is expanding in U.S. high schools

 

12 states now guarantee Personal Finance courses before high school graduation

 Next Gen Personal Finance, the leading nonprofit provider of free financial education curriculum and professional development, has published its 2022 State of Financial Education Report in collaboration with Dr. Carly Urban of Montana State University.

The analysis of over 11,000 high school course catalogs shows that national access to financial education is improving. In 2018, just 5 states guarantee

d standalone personal finance courses for all high schoolers. Today, 8 have fully implemented statewide guarantees and 4 are beginning implementation. Just in the last year, over 300,000 additional students have gained access to guaranteed financial education within their high schools. Nationally, guaranteed access to personal finance courses expanded to nearly 1 in 4 public high school students in 2022, and will increase to 1 in 3 in the coming years based on the states currently implementing new state-wide legislation (Florida, Nebraska, Ohio, and Rhode Island).

"Our 2022 report shows tremendous momentum across the country as more states recognize the importance of guaranteeing this course for high school students. Significant gaps remain, however, that must be addressed by educators, lawmakers, and state departments of education to continue to increase access for all students," shared Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance.

While much progress has been made, there is still room to improve. Next Gen Personal Finance outlines how schools can begin their journey towards guaranteed financial education here. While nationally, nearly 1 in 4 students have guaranteed access to the course, in the 42 states that currently don't guarantee the course, less than 1 in 10 students are guaranteed to take a Personal Finance course.

Access is also unequal for students of color and students in low income communities. Course catalogs reveal that in schools with greater than 75% Black and Brown student populations, only 1 in 20 students have guaranteed access. The same is true in schools with greater than 75% students eligible for Free or Reduced-price Lunch.