Personal Finance Education Comes To California High Schools

California consistently ranks among the most expensive state in the U.S. with overall costs sitting more than 10% above the national average (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis), so building strong savings habits early isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Luckily, there’s a new course requirement for students in California public and charter high schools that is about to give teens a head start.

This stand-alone course is a semester-long dive into personal finance, will be offered starting with the 2027-2028 school year, and will be a graduation requirement starting with the high school class of 2030-2031.

Among other topics, students will dig into:

• Managing bank accounts and understanding overdraft fees.
• Decoding paystubs.
• Understanding credit cards and interest rates.
• Comparing loans — student loans included — plus strategies for repayment and loan forgiveness.
• The basics of investing, from stocks to long‑term planning.
• Consumer protection and even some tax training!

Making financial literacy a high school graduation requirement ensures that students have access to essential financial knowledge. For many young people, especially those from households where money management isn’t openly discussed or taught, this requirement fills a critical gap. By providing all students with the same foundation in budgeting, credit, banking, and economic concepts, the requirement helps close the financial inclusion gap and gives every student a chance to make informed, confident financial decisions.

If you are interested in learning more about this Personal Finance high school graduation requirement, please find California’s curriculum guide here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/documents/pfcg-finaldraft.docx

The information provided herein is for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice, including, but not limited to tax, legal, insurance, investment, or retirement advice. For your specific planning needs, please seek the advice of Integris Wealth Management, your tax accountant, attorney, insurance agent, or other professional as appropriate. Investing involves the risk of loss.