Pittsburgh Public Schools, CCAC and city controller launch financial literacy summit for ninth graders

Pittsburgh Public Schools, in partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) and city officials, convened ninth-grade students at a Career and Technical Education Financial Literacy Summit at CCAC to introduce mandated personal finance coursework and practical money-management skills.

Dr. Chet Thompson, associate dean for business and technology at CCAC, opened the event and told students they were “people that are gonna help us make a difference tomorrow,” framing the summit as preparation for leadership and real-world challenges. An event presenter said the summit is designed to set students up to “win” by preparing them to take the required personal finance course during the school year.

The presenter described the summit curriculum as focusing on budgeting, credit, investing and saving and said the program was delivered in collaboration with Junior Achievement and CCAC to support students’ mandated graduation requirement for a personal finance class. The transcript does not specify the state statute or the effective date that creates that graduation requirement.

An official representing Pittsburgh Public Schools welcomed attendees and emphasized the district’s long-standing commitment to financial education, saying, “Long before the state required financial literacy, Pittsburgh public schools took it upon themselves to make financial literacy a priority.”

Rachel Heisler, the city’s controller, addressed the students and outlined her office’s role as an independent fiscal watchdog for Pittsburgh. “The city controller is one of two people elected citywide in Pittsburgh,” Heisler said, urging students to learn budgeting and financial-management skills that can help them apply for jobs and stay in the city.

Event leaders described the summit as an early touchpoint to give ninth graders baseline knowledge and confidence about personal finances; no formal votes, policy changes or budget actions were announced during the session. Organizers encouraged students to engage with the course material and take the mandated personal finance class during the coming school year.

Organizers and city officials thanked the partners and students for participating and said they look forward to the students applying the skills in future coursework and careers.