Sign the petition. Contact your representatives. The future of financial literacy education depends on people like you speaking up.
A growing number of states have made financial literacy a graduation requirement, but most still have not. Every state without a requirement is sending thousands of students into the world unprepared each year.
Demand that state governments require a standalone financial literacy course for high school graduation.
Thank you for taking a stand. Now keep the momentum going, share this page with friends and family, and consider contacting your state representative directly.
Contact Your RepWhen thousands of constituents publicly demand a policy change, elected officials and school boards are forced to respond. Signatures are not symbolic, they are leverage.
State boards of education and legislatures are the ones who set graduation requirements. Showing them that their constituents care is a critical step in the process.
If you share your personal experience in the form, your story may be used in advocacy materials and outreach to policymakers.
We are only asking for a single semester. That is all it takes to give every student a fighting chance in the real world.
The more people who sign, the stronger the message. Share this page on social media and ask others to add their voice.
Petitions show popular support, but a direct message to your representative carries even more weight. State legislators and education board members have the power to require financial literacy education, and a flood of constituent emails gets their attention.
Use the resources below to find your representative and reach out today. We have also prepared a sample letter you can copy and personalize.
Enter your address to find your state Senate and Assembly representatives. These are the officials who vote on education requirements in your state.
Find My RepYour federal House representative also influences education policy. Use the official House directory to find and contact them directly.
Find My RepU.S. Senators play a role in federal education legislation. Find your state's senators and let them know where you stand.
Find My SenatorsNew York's Board of Regents sets high school graduation requirements. This is the most direct path to change for New York State.
Visit NYSEDCopy this letter, personalize it with your details, and send it to your state legislator, education board member, or school district. Personal stories make letters more powerful, so add your own experience if you have one.
Dear [Representative Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent writing to urge you to support requiring a standalone financial literacy course as a graduation requirement in [Your State]'s high schools.
Every year, students graduate from high school without ever learning how to budget, understand a credit score, file taxes, or manage a loan. According to the National Endowment for Financial Education, 1 in 5 U.S. teens lacks basic personal finance skills. The Urban Institute reports that 1 in 6 young adults between 18 and 25 is struggling to repay debt. These are preventable outcomes.
Financial decisions happen immediately after graduation, including student loans, credit cards, and rent. Students who were never taught how these things work are at serious risk of making costly mistakes that follow them for years. And it is not just an individual issue: rising household debt slows economic growth, increases unemployment, and puts pressure on public social services.
I am asking for one practical, low-cost intervention: a mandatory one-semester personal finance course required for high school graduation. Many states have already adopted this requirement. The resources and curriculum already exist through nonprofit organizations and state education departments.
This is not a radical proposal. It is a commonsense, high-impact change that will benefit students, families, and communities for generations. I respectfully ask for your support.
Thank you for your time and public service.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, State, ZIP]
[Your Email]