California Says “Show Me the Money!” – Mandates Personal Finance Education for High School Graduation

Hold onto your smartphones, Gen Z, because California is about to drop some serious knowledge bombs on your wallets! By , all California high school students will need to pass a personal finance class to graduate. That’s right, understanding how money works is about to be as essential as acing that English essay or solving for ‘x’.

This groundbreaking move comes after some serious high-fives and handshakes between Governor Gavin Newsom, state leaders, and the financial gurus over at NGIF Mission (the cool kids club affiliated with Next Gen Personal Finance). Their mission? To make sure California’s young adults are financially savvy before they swap those graduation caps for a hard hat in the real world.

Newsom’s Money Mantra: Knowledge is Power (and Dollars!)

Governor Newsom isn’t shy about why this is a big deal. He’s basically saying, “Look, fam, knowing about money isn’t just for Wall Street hotshots anymore – it’s for everyone.” He’s super passionate about making sure young people understand the power of saving, investing, and, you know, not blowing their entire paycheck on avocado toast.

Newsom believes that financial literacy is like that trusty Swiss Army knife of life skills – it’s essential for navigating the ups and downs of adulting. Think about it: Want to buy a car? Rent an apartment? Maybe even invest in some epic sneakers? Understanding personal finance is the key to unlocking those goals without drowning in debt.

AB – Making Financial Literacy a Thing

This isn’t some vague promise, folks. It’s all thanks to AB , the piece of legislation that’s about to shake up California classrooms. Starting in the school year, all high schoolers will be required to conquer a semester-long personal finance course. No more graduating without knowing the difference between a credit score and a credit card!

But here’s the catch: The graduation requirement doesn’t kick in until the graduating class. So, seniors, you get a temporary pass (consider it an early graduation gift). But for all you underclassmen, get ready to level up your financial game!