Regents consider requiring personal finance instruction |
On Board Online • November 24, 2025
By Sara Foss
Special Correspondent
Personal finance instruction - often referred to as financial literacy - would be required for all New York students under a measure introduced at November's meeting of the state Board of Regents.
Although it has been erroneously reported by many media outlets that the Regents have approved the change, a 60-day comment period began Nov. 19. The proposal is expected to be presented for adoption by the Board of Regents in March.
If approved, financial education will be required for grades 5-12 starting in the 2026-27 school year and for grades K-4 in the 2027-28 school year.
The State Education Department (SED) collaborated with experts in personal finance education to identify key topics to be included in instruction. They are:
- Budgeting and money management.
- Credit and debt management.
- Earning income.
- Risk management.
- Saving and investment.
Under the regulatory amendment being considered by the Board of Regents, financial literacy instruction covering such topics must be provided to elementary school students by the end of grade 4, to middle school students by the end of grade 8 and to high school students by the end of grade 12.
Districts would be able to design their financial literacy programs. Instruction in personal finance can be provided through embedded instruction in existing subject areas, as stand-alone courses or as part of career and technical education programming. During each year of the phase-in, districts will be required to submit verification to the Commissioner of Education that they have implemented instruction in personal finance education.
NY Inspires, the state Education Department's plan for overhauling graduation requirements, includes a financial literacy requirement.
A different state plan would require students entering ninth grade in 2027 and beyond to earn one credit in career and technical education (CTE). Students will be able to fulfill this requirement by taking financial literacy and other business and marketing courses, or through classes in other CTE disciplines, such as agricultural education, computer science education, family and consumer sciences education, health sciences education, technology education and trade and technical education.
The idea of requiring personal finance instruction has the backing of the Office of the New York State Comptroller. Staff appeared at November's meeting to express support and have spoken to the Board of Regents in the past.
"This is a very good step forward," said Maria Smith, director of financial literacy and education outreach for the Comptroller's Office. She said there are a lot of free resources available to help districts provide financial literacy instruction in their schools, such as the Next Gen Personal Finance Curriculum, and that New York schools should be able to implement the new requirement in an "economical way."
Angelique Johnson-Dingle, deputy commissioner for P12 instructional support, said that instruction in personal finance is "foundational to preparing students to graduate as informed, empowered individuals capable of managing personal finances responsibly."