AB 984 Would Require a Personal Finance Course for High School Students

Listen: Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) has introduced AB 984. This bill will require public high schools, including charter schools, to offer a personal finance course.

Kevin McCarty represents California’s 6th Assembly District, which includes the city of Sacramento, and parts of unincorporated Sacramento County. McCarty serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. Website of Assemblymember Kevin McCarty: https://a06.asmdc.org/

Research shows U.S. teens and Gen Z-aged youth demonstrate a significant lack of understanding of basic financial terms and concepts. 34% of youth are learning personal finance from TikTok or other social media platforms, and 32% of teens can’t tell the difference between a debit card and a credit card.

High school students would be required to complete one semester course of a financial literacy class. This course could be an already existing finance class that meets the A-G requirements of the University of California and the California State University, or a locally developed class approved by the school district or charter school.

The course will be a graduation requirement starting the 2025-26 school year.