Financial literacy class will be required for Texas high schoolers under new law
If you went through high school in Texas without ever learning how to budget, file taxes or avoid credit card debt, lawmakers are trying to make sure the next generation won’t have that same gap.
Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed House Bill 27 into law, which requires all public high school students to take a one-semester personal financial literacy course to graduate.
Supporters believe the class will give teens a head start on building healthy money habits and making informed decisions about their future.
Texas now joins 28 other states with similar requirements. Here’s what you need to know about the new law.
Who has to take Texas financial literacy class?
All Texas public high school students tarting with the class of 2030, meaning students entering 9th grade in the 2026–27 school year, will need to complete the course to graduate.
The new class will count as one of the three mandatory social studies credits in the state’s foundation high school program.
Texas is the 29th state to adopt a financial literacy requirement, according to Next Gen Personal Finance, a nonprofit that offers free curriculum to schools nationwide.
What will Texas students learn in financial literacy course?
The class will teach essential money skills that apply well beyond the classroom, including:
- Budgeting and saving
- Credit and debt management
- Taxes
- Loans, including student loans
- Building and maintaining good credit
Some students may also fulfill the requirement by completing an Advanced Placement course with state-approved personal finance content.
How will new law be implemented in Texas schools?
The Texas Education Agency will create a list of free, publicly available curricula so school districts can roll out the class without additional costs.
Districts will also have the option to use state, federal, private or nonprofit programs to deliver the lessons.
This could mean students learn through interactive online tools, traditional lectures, or a mix of both, as long as the content meets state standards.
Why will Texas require financial literacy course to graduate?
Supporters of HB 27 say it addresses a long-standing gap in education: many young adults graduate without understanding how to manage money.
Advocates believe these skills will help students avoid financial pitfalls, like taking on too much debt, and will give them the confidence to make informed decisions about their future.
“As a result of this legislation, 76 percent of high school students in the U.S. will now be guaranteed to take a standalone Personal Finance course,” Next Gen Personal Finance Director of Educational Outreach Yanely Espinal said. NGPF is a leading nonprofit dedicated to providing high-quality personal finance curriculum to eduators.
“This landmark policy is evidence of the strong, bipartisan support for equipping Texas students with essential real-world financial fundamentals,” Espinal said.
