New Financial Literacy Course Coming for Texas High School Students

October 28, 2025 – In a major education shift, all Texas public high school students will soon be required to complete a dedicated half-credit course in personal financial literacy. The law, signed earlier this year as House Bill 27, mandates that students entering ninth grade in the 2025-2026 school year earn this credit before graduating.

The move reflects growing concern that many young adults reaching age 18 are equipped to manage student loans, credit cards and budgeting not with proficiency, but with uncertainty. “Maybe this happened to you. You were 18 years old, and your parents suggested you start to build your credit profile,” reads a typical anecdote. The new requirement aims to give students the foundational skills they need to make informed financial decisions early.

Under the legislation, school districts must provide resources or approved curricula that meet the Texas Education Code’s personal finance standards — topics include budgeting, credit scores, interest, saving and investing. Supporters say the requirement will help shift students away from learning financial lessons the “hard way.”

Critics caution that a single half-credit course may not be enough to fully prepare students for the complexities of modern finance — but agree it’s a meaningful step forward. Educators are now preparing to roll out the course in the 2026-2027 academic year for full implementation.

As Texas joins a growing number of states mandating financial education, students will now face a curriculum requirement that connects classroom learning to real-world experiences — whether saving for a first car, avoiding predatory loans or understanding how college choices affect long-term credit.