Pennsylvania high schools will have a new graduation requirement by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. According to Act 35 of a new state law, all students must take at least a half-credit course in personal finance in order to graduate.
The regulation covers all high schools, both public and private, and establishes a harmonized and consistent financial literacy instructional standard.
The modifications will be included in the new Personal Finance standards of Pennsylvania, which will begin its formal operation in July 2026. The standards cover principles of money management, including budgeting, saving, credit, and investing, and are left to be resolved by the respective school districts on how to teach such subjects.
Despite the fact that cryptocurrency is not a mandatory topic of the curriculum, the districts can take it as an example. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the local schools are at liberty to organize their own courses, although they need to incorporate the core state standards. This approach provides educators with an opportunity to present the financial concepts using numerous materials, without attempting to popularize some financial products or services.
Curriculum design is also flexible, and to make abstract financial concepts more in touch with students' needs and interests, schools can design the curriculum to suit their needs in an effort to make them more tangible and applicable.
The standards for teaching financial literacy incorporate teachings about basic financial products. The main skills that will be stressed are:
With these essential skills, students will be able to manage a plethora of financial scenarios, starting with simple banking and retirement savings, and progressing to the knowledge of new financial instruments. This strategy provides them with basic skills they can employ regardless of how the financial world evolves in the future.
Outside sources can be used by teachers who need information regarding matters such as blockchain or cryptocurrency. Websites like CryptoManiaks contain articles and explanations that can introduce students to these new financial technologies. These are not state-endorsed resources, but they can be used by teachers who wish to teach students basic crypto knowledge.
The new financial literacy course in Pennsylvania is a national trend. The Council for Economic Education says that an increasing number of states are requiring personal finance as a graduation requirement, but the content taught can differ.
This change is in response to the fact that the young adults in the present generation have a significantly more complicated financial environment compared to the previous generations. With the age of online payment, digital money, online banking, student loans, and easy access to credit, simple money skills are not adequate anymore.
Financial literacy lessons train students on real decisions, such as:
Through lessons about these topics, schools enable the students to develop skills that they will apply in college, careers, and in their lives in general.
Students and families should also have access to useful programs out of the classroom as school districts prepare the new course. Various community groups and credit unions, as well as local banks, provide free financial workshops or activities to young people. They are optional and might be based on the location that you live in, and they are a wonderful practice opportunity in a new environment to implement finance skills.
Homes can contribute by talking about money, such as budgeting, savings, and financial planning. These daily discussions bring the classroom lessons to life and allow teens to be ready to live a financially independent life.
