Florida Enacts Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida has implemented a significant update to its education requirements with the Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Act (SB 1054), signed into law in 2022. This legislation mandates financial literacy education for all public high school students, aiming to provide young Floridians with essential skills for navigating personal finances and fostering economic stability.
Building a Foundation for Financial Well-being

Advocates highlight financial literacy as a critical life skill, indispensable for achieving long-term financial security and participating effectively in the economy. By providing students with a solid grasp of financial principles – like creating a budget akin to a roadmap for their money – Florida is investing in their ability to avoid common financial pitfalls.
Supporters emphasize that this legislation empowers young people to build secure financial futures and contribute to a thriving state economy by making informed choices about spending, saving, borrowing, and investing.
Curriculum: Real-World Skills for Financial Navigation
The financial literacy curriculum focuses on practical skills essential for navigating adult financial life, covering key areas such as:
- Creating Budgets and Savings Plans
- Understanding Credit Scores, Reports, and Debt Management
- Fundamentals of Investing and Building Wealth
- Basics of Insurance and Risk Management
- Understanding Taxes and Financial Institutions
- Avoiding Fraud and Protecting Financial Information
Broad Support for a Financially Empowered Generation

The initiative received broad support, reflecting a shared recognition across the political spectrum of the need to equip students with practical financial knowledge. This consensus underscores the importance of preparing young people for the financial complexities they will face after graduation.
Implementation: Ensuring Effective Delivery
Successful implementation requires careful planning for curriculum development, resource allocation across diverse school districts, and crucially, providing adequate training and support for educators tasked with teaching the course. Ongoing evaluation will be key to refining the curriculum's effectiveness.
Looking Ahead: Equipping Florida's Youth for Economic Success
With the Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Act, Florida is taking a proactive step towards fostering greater financial stability. By embedding these essential life skills into the core curriculum, the state aims to equip future generations for personal economic success and responsible participation in the economy.