Legislation and Policies Related to Financial Education in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Jump$tart Coalition offers the following links (current as of March 2021) to legislation related to financial education in Pennsylvania. While the coalition has not taken a position on these bills, members of the board and/or partner organizations are available to answer questions and offer feedback to members of the legislature or press. To connect with the coalition, kindly send us a message.
2022-2023 Legislative Session
(Click on the bill number to view detailed information and the current status of each bill.)
Senate Bill 647 – Passed in the Senate on May 9, 2023 (44-5)
Sponsor: Senator Gebhard
An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; and abrogating regulations.
2021-2022 Legislative Session
(Click on the bill number to view detailed information and the current status of each bill.)
Prime Sponsor: Senator Gebhard
An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for economics and personal finance course graduation requirement and further providing for economic education and personal financial literacy programs; and abrogating regulations.
Prime Sponsor: Representative Driscoll
An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for subjects of instruction and flag code and for economic education and personal financial literacy programs, providing for personal finance instruction and for capstone course in personal finance as graduation requirement and establishing the Personal Finance Education Fund; and making an appropriation.
Senate Bill 34
Prime Sponsor: Senator A. Williams
An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for subjects of instruction and flag code and for economic education and personal financial literacy programs, providing for personal finance instruction and for capstone course in personal finance as graduation requirement; establishing the Personal Finance Education Fund; and making an appropriation.
Previous Legislative Sessions
Act 91 (Formerly House Bill 49)
Prime Sponsor: Representative Brown
An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in high schools, further providing for courses of study. This act authorizes local education agencies (i.e. school districts) to grant credit for graduation to students who take a course in personal finance (even as an elective). The credit may be awarded as business, family and consumer science, math, or social studies. This decision is left to the local school district. Additional guidance is expected to be issued by the department of education in the near future. The act was signed into law on November 27, 2019, by Governor Tom Wolf.
Academic Standards
Personal finance topics are found in the following Pennsylvania Academic Standards listed below. Three are under consideration for amendments at the direction of the State Board of Education.