Wisconsin High School Students Required to Take Personal Finance Course

Wisconsin high school students are about to see a major change in their curriculum as a new graduation requirement is set to take effect. Starting with the class of 2028, all high school students in the state will be required to take a half-credit Personal Finance course.

This new requirement comes as part of Wisconsin Act 60, signed into law by Governor Tony Evers late last year. The law aims to ensure that students have the financial knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in today’s world.

In Milwaukee, Personal Finance teacher Tyler Podoll has been leading the way in teaching students about money management. He shares his own personal finances with his students, including his credit report and investment portfolio, to make the course more relatable and engaging.

Podoll’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as students like Bay View High School Junior Quantavious Stokes have found the course to be eye-opening. Guest speakers like Vincent Wallace-Haygood from SecureFutures have also been brought in to help students understand the importance of financial planning.

While the new requirement is a step in the right direction, there is still work to be done to ensure that all students have access to financial education. According to SecureFutures, only 1 in 4 students nationwide have access to a Personal Finance course, with even lower numbers for African American and Latino students.

MPS hopes that the financial knowledge gained in the classroom will be shared at home, encouraging students to have open conversations with their parents or guardians about money. By learning from the mistakes and successes of others in the community, students can gain financial empowerment and set themselves up for success in the future.

As Podoll emphasizes, this new course may be the most important one students take, as it will directly impact their everyday lives. With the implementation of the new graduation requirement, Wisconsin students will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of personal finance and make informed decisions about their money.