High schools rethink how teens learn money skills

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The Course Correction panelists discuss why its so great that more and more young people are making the effort to learn more about finances on Course Correction: Next Gen Financial Freedom.

High schools around the country are experimenting with new ways to teach students about personal finance, as educators look to boost students' knowledge about finance and investing.

Financial literacy is a growing focus of policymakers as nearly 30 states have implemented laws or regulations that mandate high school students complete a personal finance course during their studies.

An analysis by the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College found that by 2031, 29 states and the District of Columbia will have a requirement for a personal finance course as part of a graduation requirement by 2031.

High school students participate in a lesson with their teacher. (Getty Images)

At that time, 73% of public high school students, or about 11.3 million students, would be subject to a "grade A" personal financial education requirement, which the group defines as a one-semester, half-year course with at least 60 hours of personal finance instruction per academic year.

That figure is up from 11% in 2023, when just 1.7 million public high school students were subject to such a requirement. In 2025, more than 2.3 million students are covered by a financial literacy requirement, or about 15% of the nation's public school students.

As these requirements take effect, educators are testing ways to give students real experience with finances to learn how saving and investing works.