Committee hears proposal to make financial education a high school graduation requirement

Senate Bill 5080, which would require Washington high school students to meet state financial education learning standards to graduate, was presented Tuesday to the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

Elena Becker, committee staff, told the panel the bill “requires school districts to provide all high school students with financial education instruction and requires high school students [to] meet the state financial education learning standards in order to graduate,” with the graduation requirement scheduled to begin with the class of 2033 unless the State Board of Education recommends an earlier start date.

Why it matters: Backers said universal financial education would give students basic skills in budgeting, credit, saving and investing, and would help reduce long-term financial vulnerability. Supporters also said consistent statewide instruction would address unequal access across districts.

State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti praised student and stakeholder…