Gov. DeSantis signs bill requiring financial literacy course as graduation requirement

High schoolers will now learn financial literacy

Jennifer Holton reports

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. - One day after the state legislature formally sent a bill requiring a financial literacy course for high school students to graduate, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it.

The Florida governor signed the bill from Innovation Preparatory Academy in Wesley Chapel on Tuesday morning. While the signed legislation focuses on high school students, the Pasco County charter school that serves kindergarten through 8th-grade students already incorporates financial courses into its curriculum.

The measure (SB 1054) was unanimously approved during the 2022 legislative session, which ended last week.

"I think this is going to be something that is really good," he said before signing the bill. "We think it will improve a student’s capability for financial management when they enter the real world."

Full video: Gov. DeSantis signs financial literacy bill in Pasco County

The Florida governor signed the bill from Innovation Preparatory Academy in Wesley Chapel on Tuesday morning which requires high school students to complete a financial literacy course to graduate.

Students entering high school in the 2023-24 academic year will be required to take a half-credit course in "personal financial literacy and money management." This makes Florida the seventh state to mandate a stand-alone course in personal financial literacy to graduate.

The class must teach about a dozen concepts. The students will learn about the types of bank accounts offered, how to balance a checkbook, money, debit and credit card management, how to complete a loan application, receiving an inheritance, personal insurance basics, how to do your taxes, lessons on local tax assessments, interest rates, simple contracts, contesting an incorrect bill, state and federal laws, and ways to save and invest.

Previous coverage: Financial literacy for students

A bill headed to Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk requires students to take a financial literacy class in order to graduate high school.

MORE: Florida teacher pay increase in state budget will be approved, governor says

The measure also reduces the number of required electives for high school students to 7½ credits, from the currently required eight credits.

The financial literacy course will be required to cover concepts such as types of bank accounts and how to manage accounts, credit and credit scores, completing loan applications, and types of savings and investments.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

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