Learn how states require a course in personal finance – Fast Lane
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Learn how states require a course in personal finance

Bonus promising practice: Require a course in personal finance

A graduation requirement is the most effective approach because it ensures that all students leave high school with the tools needed to navigate the complex financial decisions facing them.

A full-semester course may not be feasible for your district or state. Here is how two states, Utah and Tennessee, fit a half-credit personal finance course into their graduation requirements. Virginia offers another example. It added a yearlong course in economics and personal finance to its state curriculum.

Stand-Alone Personal Finance Course
Embedded Personal Finance Requirement
Utah Tennessee Virginia  
English/Language Arts (4 credits) English (4 credits) English (6 credits)
Mathematics (high school) (3 Credits) Math ( 4 credits) Math (4 credits)
Science (high school) (3 credits) Science (3 credits) Laboratory Science (4 credits)
Social Studies (high school) (3 credits) Social Studies (3 credits) History Social Studies (4 credits)
Directed Coursework (3.5 credits)

(1.5 credits) Fine Arts
(1 credits) CTE
(0.5 credits) Digital Studies
(0.5 credits) General Financial Literacy
Personal Finance (0.5 credits) Economics & Personal Finance (1 credit)
Physical Education Health (2 Credits) Physical Education and Wellness (1.5 credits) Health Physical education (2 credits)
Required Electives (5.5 Credits) Elective Focus (3 credits) Electives (4 credits)
Foreign Language (2 credits) World Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education (2 credits)
Fine Arts (1 credit)
Additional information can be found here. Additional information can be found here. Additional information can be found here.