Financial Literacy Advocacy Day at Massachusetts State House on July 21 in Support of Bill S. 2988
On Tuesday, July 21, Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) organized a Financial Literacy Advocacy Day at the Massachusetts State House in support of Bill S.2988, which would require all Massachusetts high school students to complete a semester-long personal finance course before graduating. The event brought together educators, students, policymakers, and advocates from across the Commonwealth to demonstrate the broad support for ensuring every student graduates with essential financial knowledge.
The afternoon kicked off with opening remarks from Christian Sherrill from NGPF, Senator Paul Feeney, Representative Ryan Hamilton, and Senator Patrick O’Connor, who spoke about the need for such a financial education bill.
Christian Sherrill from NGPF introducing the event.
Attendees then watched a short NGPF documentary featuring students and educators from across the country sharing how financial education has impacted their lives. One message resonated throughout the film: students want to learn personal finance. Whether it's understanding credit, budgeting, taxes, or investing, they recognize these are life skills that prepare them to confidently navigate an increasingly complex financial world.
Following the documentary was a panel discussion featuring educator and Financial Empowerment Network (FEN) member Susan Comparato, certified financial planner Mark Porter, and student representative Sophie Hong. Sophie currently works as an intern at the Midas Collaborative and is a rising freshman heading to college in the fall. We had the opportunity to understand her perspective following the event. Hear from Sophie below:
Sophie:
It was an honor to share my “why” behind financial education. Growing up with immigrant parents, money was rarely discussed in my household, so I didn’t know a thing about money until I actively learned about it on my own. Meanwhile, many of my classmates from nonimmigrant households would talk about receiving an allowance, opening a bank account, investing…the list goes on. What’s worse is that my school, like most schools in Massachusetts, doesn’t have financial literacy as part of its required curriculum, leading to disparities in financial knowledge and ultimately financial outcomes. The reason why I believe financial education is so important is that it will ensure that everyone—regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or any other demographic—will have access to the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the ever-complex economy.
Sophie speaking on the panel.
During the panel, I also had the opportunity to share the work I have done over the past few years, including organizing community financial literacy workshops, writing a children's book series that introduces personal finance concepts to young readers, and advocating for financial education through FEN. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share my story and to represent the voices of young people who believe every student deserves access to high-quality financial education.
The event concluded with a networking session, where I had the chance to connect with educators, students, nonprofit leaders, and fellow advocates from across Massachusetts. It was inspiring to hear about the initiatives taking place in communities throughout the state and to exchange ideas about how we can continue expanding access to financial education.
The Massachusetts Senate is expected to vote on Bill S.2988 on July 31. While there is still important work ahead, Advocacy Day was a powerful reminder that meaningful change is possible when students, educators, policymakers, and community partners come together around a shared goal. I am proud to stand alongside so many dedicated advocates working to ensure every Massachusetts student graduates with the financial knowledge and confidence to thrive.
Written by Sophie Hong.
