High Schoolers: Get Your Finance On

Back in the day, high school kids could tell you all about the Pythagorean Theorem…but couldn't tell you what went into a credit score. Today, it's a whole different piece of pi! 🥧🤓

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Some states now require financial literacy classes for high school students. 🏫 The classes cover practical topics like budgeting, saving, and managing debt. Three cheers for arming the next generation with math they'll actually use! 🎉🔢

Here’s Five Fast Facts on financial literacy in high schools:

1. 🎓 Head of the Class - Seven states (Alabama, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia) require students to take a semester-long personal finance course or its equivalent. 

2. 🤡 Dunce Cap - A recent report gave five states an "F" when it comes to personal finance education in their high schools: California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Dakota, and Washington D.C. According to the report, they have “virtually no requirements."

3. 📈 On Trend - By 2028, an additional 23 states will put more financial literacy programs in high schools after approval from state legislatures. 

4. 💸 The More You Know - Why are states now taking financial literacy seriously? For one, the pandemic put personal finance front and center for many American households. Income inequality and higher inflation also continues to take its toll, as well as the restart of student loan payments. 

5. 👩🏽‍💻 Getting Testy - Wanna test your own financial knowledge? Check out this seven-question financial literacy quiz from FINRA. Need more? Try this 10-question personal finance quiz from the Council for Economic Education.

🔥Bottom line: Personal finance shouldn't be a mystery. Requiring financial literacy in high schools means kids graduate a little more prepared to take on adult financial responsibilities. Because learning how to manage debt is always better before you actually have it! Are you spooked by the thought of a cashless economy? Read all about that here.  

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Did your high school teach you practical finance skills?

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