Despite growing demand from parents, educators, and students themselves, most schools in the U.S. still don’t offer personal finance as a required part of the curriculum. In a world where young adults face rising student debt, credit cards, and the pressure to make financial decisions early on, the absence of basic money education is a glaring gap.
So why isn’t personal finance widely taught—and what’s standing in the way?
1. Lack of National Standards
Education in the U.S. is controlled primarily at the state and local levels, which means there’s no unified national requirement to teach personal finance. While some states have made progress—like Florida, which now mandates a financial literacy course for high school graduation—many others leave it up to individual districts, resulting in inconsistent coverage.
2. Competing Curriculum Priorities
Schools are under constant pressure to meet academic benchmarks in math, science, reading, and test prep. Adding a standalone personal finance course often gets pushed aside in favor of “core” subjects, even though financial literacy has long-term implications for a student’s well-being.
3. Limited Teacher Training
Even when schools want to offer personal finance, they often face a practical hurdle: not enough teachers are trained to teach it. Many educators feel unprepared or underqualified to cover topics like credit, investing, budgeting, or taxes. Without support and resources, it’s a tough ask.
4. Outdated Views on Money Education
There’s also a lingering belief that personal finance should be taught at home. But many parents feel unequipped themselves, especially if they didn’t receive financial education growing up. In reality, school is often the only place where students from all backgrounds can get equal access to this kind of knowledge.
Why It Matters
According to a recent study by the National Endowment for Financial Education, nearly 9 in 10 adults believe financial education should be required in schools. Students who do take personal finance courses are more likely to budget, save, and avoid high-interest debt later in life.
Personal finance isn’t just about numbers—it’s about independence, security, and confidence. As the cost of living rises and financial systems grow more complex, the need for early, practical money education is more urgent than ever. Making personal finance a standard part of the school curriculum isn’t just smart policy—it’s a necessary step toward financial equality.
