The state House has adopted legislation making money management a high school graduation requirement.
Representative Skyler Rude of Walla Walla, ranking Republican on the House Education Committee, gained bipartisan support for the legislation to include financial education as a graduation requirement for high school students. Rude shared on the House floor what a required course in money management may look like.
“Methods of interest calculation, effect borrowing costs, decide the most effective loan options for paying for a car, illustrate the total cost of reducing a credit card balance to zero with minimum payments versus above minimum payments.”
Rude said development of curriculum and the new graduation requirement was a team effort involving education professionals and community members.
“It is my belief that this is a really great way for us to equip our graduating students to be successful in their personal lives and their careers.”
Rude’s bill requires school districts to provide high school students with access to financial education instruction beginning in or before the 2027-28 school year.
The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
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