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Business and banking leaders back AP personal-finance course, partnerships and hands-on exercises to broaden K–12 money skills
Summary
Panelists from the Pennsylvania Chamber, Members 1st Federal Credit Union and the Pennsylvania Bankers Association discussed private-sector partnerships, an AP personal finance course with the College Board, gamification and "reality fair" simulations as ways to expand financial literacy in Pennsylvania schools.
Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said private-sector partnerships and new curriculum options are opening pathways to earlier and broader financial instruction for students.
"We're partnering with the College Board on doing an AP course on personal finance and business," Bernstein said, describing a development he said builds on Pennsylvania's 2023 mandate to require some personal finance instruction.
Sarah Firestone, vice president of community and public relations at Members 1st Federal Credit Union, emphasized the importance of local relationships. "We should all be working together and being partners in this," she said, urging credit unions and businesses to enter districts as trusted resources for classroom lessons and member-focused one-on-one support.
Duncan Campbell, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, highlighted engagement strategies: gamification, reality fairs and simulations that let students role-play budgeting, mortgages and other household expenses. "Gamification is something that I think you're seeing more of," he said, and described exercises where students take a mock job, calculate take-home pay and budget for rent, transportation and savings.
Panelists identified implementation barriers — limited time and competing priorities in districts, and the challenge of crafting age-appropriate lessons across elementary, middle and high school — and urged flexible approaches. They pushed employer partnerships, career fairs and hands-on programs as practical entry points, and said districts can adapt models from other areas that already teach financial literacy.
Campbell noted that roughly 30 states have adopted similar graduation or course requirements, and panelists recommended continued outreach to legislators and to local employers to support district rollout.
The panel did not announce new state funding or legislation during the episode. Panelists recommended district-level planning, leveraging community partners and exploring available resources to support instruction.
