Frequently Asked Questions about Financial Education in Pennsylvania | January 2024
Does Pennsylvania require all students to take a course in personal finance before they graduate?
Not yet. At present, whether or not a student is required to take a course depends on the graduation requirements set forth by the local school district. These requirements can vary greatly from one school district to another. Some school districts have required a course in personal finance for graduation for many years. Other school districts recently changed their personal finance requirements. Changes can be driven by teachers, administrators, parents, students, board members, or community members.
Begining with the 2026-2027 all schools will be required to provide a mandatory course in personal financial literacy of 0.5 credit or greater. Students will be required to complete the course in grades nine through twelve in order to graduate. This requirement is part of Act 35 of 2023. Additional clarification and interpretation is expected in the coming months.
How do I find out if personal finance is offered and/or required in my local school district?
There are several places where you can access information on the status of personal finance in your local school district. The data may be different as each organization uses different methodology and collects information at separate times.
- Pennsylvania’s Making Cents Project — a cooperative effort of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Penn State University
- Next Gen Personal Finance
- Check Your School
Who can teach personal finance in Pennsylvania?
Personal finance can be taught by educators with any of the following at the certifications:
- CSPG 33 – Business, Computer and Information Technology
- CSPG 35 – Citizenship Education
- CSPG 44 – Family & Consumer Sciences
- CSPG 49 – Marketing/Distributive Education
- CSPG 50 – Mathematics
- CSPG 52 – Middle Level Social Studies
- CSPG 53 – Middle Level Mathematics
- CSPG 59 – Social Studies
- CSPG 69 – Grades PK-4
- CSPG 70 – Grades 4-8
What organizations are involved in financial education in Pennsylvania?
Check out our list of partner organizations to see some of the organizations involved in financial education in Pennsylvania.