Gov. Ned Lamont signed into law legislation that requires students to complete a half-credit course in personal financial management and financial literacy in order to graduate from Connecticut public high schools.
The requirement begins with the class of 2027, who start high school this fall, and the half-credit can count as either a humanities or an elective credit ”“ but it will not add to students”™ existing required credits.
The new law also adds personal financial management and financial literacy to the state”™s required program of instruction for public schools. The Connecticut State Board of Education will provide curriculum and resources to help local school boards develop the courses, which must include instruction on banking, investing, savings, the handling of personal finance matters, and the impact of using credit cards and debit cards.
“Personal financial management is one of the most important instructional tools that we can give young people to achieve economic independence and stability throughout their lives and requiring it to graduate from high school is simply common sense,” Lamont said in a press statement. “This course will help give every student a better shot at financial success, particularly those who are not fortunate enough to be given the opportunity or the resources to receive this kind of instruction at home.”
With this new law, Connecticut becomes the 22nd state requiring students to take a personal finance course to graduate from high school.
