The financial education community hit a milestone in 2024 with over half the states having laws requiring students to take a financial education course to graduate. Creating these requirements is the important first step, but the critical phase is the implementation of these policies. The variables that must be considered range from funding streams to measuring success. While a one-size-fits-all approach does not exist for all states to utilize, many states can learn from the best practices and strategies of others.
NEFE will continue to play a strategic role in assisting the remaining states who want to “make the case” for a K-12 financial education graduation requirement legislation, and our role is evolving and expanding to provide data, research and knowledge on how these states with laws on the books can manage the implementation process. We have created a series of position papers on the varying decisions states will need to consider. These can be the foundation for creating a customized implementation strategy that will make sense for teachers, students and communities.
