What makes Senate Bill S.2988 stand out from other financial literacy bills is that it would require every public high school student to complete a standalone semester-long personal finance course before graduation. Rather than briefly threading financial topics into other classes, S.2988, currently residing in the Senate Means & Ways committee, recognizes that personal finance deserves dedicated instructional time. Research consistently shows that a dedicated personal finance course leads to stronger financial knowledge and better long-term behaviors than when the subject is embedded into other classes. By guaranteeing every student access to a comprehensive personal finance course, S.2988 would help ensure that financial education becomes a fundamental part of every Massachusetts student's education.

We commend the Massachusetts Statewide Graduation Council and the House for the thoughtful work reflected in the newly released Final Report. The report recommends that students complete MassCore coursework, end-of-course assessments, a culminating experience, and a My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) with required milestones that include financial literacy, work-based learning, AI and digital literacy, and FAFSA/MASFA completion. While we recognize the significant work done to recognize financial literacy as an essential component of student success, we remain concerned that the recommendation embeds financial literacy within the MyCAP framework rather than guaranteeing every student access to a dedicated, standalone personal finance course. Every Massachusetts student deserves comprehensive, consistent instruction that equips them with the financial skills needed to thrive long after graduation.

Click here to read the key points of the report.

Presentation to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC), March 20th, 2026

Last month, the Financial Empowerment Network (FEN) presented to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, continuing a statewide conversation about what it will take to ensure every student graduates prepared to navigate their financial future. At the center of the presentation was a clear and urgent message: financial literacy is a foundational life skill, but access to it in Massachusetts is still inconsistent and inequitable. Read more

H.4670 marks an important step forward in advancing financial education across Massachusetts, and we’re encouraged to see growing momentum around this work. At the Financial Empowerment Network, we remain committed to supporting strong, effective approaches that ensure all students have access to meaningful, comprehensive personal finance learning. As implementation continues to take shape, we look forward to engaging with partners, educators, and community members to help strengthen and expand these efforts.

Want to learn more or get involved? Connect with us to continue the conversation.

Massachusetts has a history of leading the nation in education whether it was its focus on literacy during the colonial period, the first public school or its education reform movement in 1993. But when it comes to financial education, it is woefully deficient. Currently, only 20 school districts in the 351 cities and towns require a standalone personal finance class in Massachusetts.

Other states are leading the way. As of 2025, 30 states guarantee a course in personal financial education before students graduate and other states have legislation working through their legislatures. Learn more about legislation in other states in the bill tracker on the NGPF website.

We can equip every student with the tools to budget, build credit, and invest intelligently. But we need your voice. Join our letter-writing campaign urging legislators to co-sponsor crucial legislation mandating personal finance education in schools. Your words will resonate, showing the widespread support for empowering students to make informed financial decisions.

Download information sheets on active bills, FEN history, and much more.

The Joint Committee on Education is where MA state lawmakers decide on big ideas that affect Massachusetts schools — from classroom funding to what students are expected to learn. Click the link below below to learn more who works on the Joint Committee on Education.

Want to know who represents you on Beacon Hill? Use this tool to look up your state senator and representative by entering your address. It’s the easiest way to connect directly with the lawmakers who make decisions that impact your community.