THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234
Office of Standards and Instructional Programs
Dr. Santosha Oliver, Assistant Commissioner
89 Washington Avenue, Room 319 EB, Albany, NY 12234
518-474-5922
啦堯勳莽泭鳥梗鳥棗娶硃紳餃喝鳥泭is泭to inform you that at their March 2026 meeting, the Board of Regents泭approved for permanent adoption泭喧堯梗 to require instruction in personal finance泭education and climate education for public schools.泭These regulations become permanently effective on泭March 25, 2026.泭
The 做厙TV (NYSED or the Department) recognizes the importance of preparing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the financial and environmental challenges of the 21st century. Personal finance education and climate education are essential to ensuring that students graduate as informed and empowered individuals, capable of managing their personal finances; making sound decisions; understanding the impacts of climate change; and preparing for economic independence, environmental stewardship, and long-term success.泭This memorandum is intended to support public schools in the effective implementation of K-12 climate education and personal finance education.泭
Instructional Requirement泭泭
The amendment provides that instruction in personal finance education and climate education must be provided by the end of the last year of each grade band elementary, middle, and high school. Specifically, such instruction must be provided to elementary school students by the end of grade 4, to middle school students by the end of grade 8, and to high school students by the end of grade泭12.泭
The amendment provides for a multi-year phase-in approach for the new instructional requirements in personal finance education and climate education:泭
| New Instructional Requirement | Middle Grade Band (Grades 5 8) and High School Grade Band (Grades 912) | Elementary Grade Band (Grades K4)泭 |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Finance 做厙TV泭 | Beginning with the 20262027 school year (SY)泭 | Beginning with the 20272028 SY泭 |
| Climate 做厙TV泭 | Beginning with the 20272028 SY泭 | Beginning with the 20282029 SY泭 |
The phased rollout of these instructional requirements over multiple years and by grade band allows for flexibility in local implementation. While instruction in personal finance education and climate education must begin in the years identified in the chart above, public schools do not need to wait for the established timelines for each grade band to begin providing instruction. For example, in the 2026-2027 school year, public schools could begin to provide climate education instruction to students in the elementary, middle, and/or high school grade bands. However, at a minimum, climate education instruction must be provided in each grade band by the end of the 2028-2029 school year.
Local Implementation泭
To support implementation of the new instructional requirements, the Department, guided by expert stakeholder input, has identified key topics for both personal finance education and climate education.泭
Personal Finance:泭
- Budgeting and Money Management
- Credit and Debt Management
- Earning Income
- Risk Management
- Saving and Investing泭
Climate 做厙TV:泭
- Causes of Climate Change
- Impacts of Climate Change
- Solutions for Climate Change
The New York State learning standards and frameworks offer multiple entry points for integrating age-appropriate key concepts in personal finance education and climate education. Through this integration, students have meaningful opportunities to apply discipline-specific knowledge and skills while simultaneously developing the attributes outlined in the泭New York State Portrait of a Graduate.泭
To support instructional planning, the Department will develop grade band泭objectives泭that reflect a coherent and developmentally泭appropriate progression泭of learning in personal finance education and climate education. These泭objectives泭will泭assist泭educators in designing instruction that builds across elementary, middle, and high school levels.泭Additional泭information泭regarding泭喧堯梗 grade band泭objectives泭is泭forthcoming.泭
The amendment provides泭flexibility in local implementation. Instruction in personal finance education泭and climate education泭can be provided泭through泭one or more of the following implementation options:泭
-
Embedded Instruction:泭Instruction is泭intentionally integrated into required courses/subject areas (e.g., science, mathematics, social studies, etc.) within a designated grade band. Students must be provided with meaningful opportunities to learn about the泭broad泭topics by the end of such泭grade泭band. Instruction must be delivered by a teacher appropriately certified in the subject area where the embedded instruction is occurring.泭
-
Stand-Alone Course(s):泭Instruction is provided泭in泭a dedicated course or courses within a designated grade band. Students must receive泭instruction泭that泭addresses泭喧堯梗泭broad泭topics by the end of such泭grade泭band. Instruction must be delivered by a teacher appropriately certified to teach such泭course.泭
Additionally, for personal finance education, public schools have a third option:泭泭
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Career泭and Technical 做厙TV Programming:泭At the middle level grade泭band,盎tudents泭may receive instruction in personal finance through the涌inancial and Consumer泭Literacy泭module,眨hich may be offered畝s part of the1.75 unit泭middle-level CTE requirement.涉t the疲igh school level, students may盍eceive instruction in personal finance byparticipating疳n NYSED-approved CTE泭programs that include泭棗紳梗half unit皋f浚areer and Financial Management.涉 NYSED-approved CTE program is a program developed which meets the guidelines in泭section泭100.5(d)(6) of Commissioners泭Regulations. Instruction泭provided through this option泭must泭address泭all of泭喧堯梗泭broad泭personal finance topics and泭be provided by an appropriately certified CTE teacher.羔
Public schools泭are encouraged to泭utilize泭as many of the available options as practical.泭For example,泭a school could provide embedded instruction in grades K8 and a standalone course in grades 912, provided that instruction is delivered within the prescribed grade bands and meets the regulatory requirements.
Reporting泭Requirement泭
Each year during the phase-in of the new instructional requirements, school districts and charter schools will be required to submit verification to the Commissioner of 做厙TV that they have implemented instruction in personal finance education and climate education within the grade bands prescribed in the regulations.泭
- Personal Finance 做厙TV:泭For the2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 school years,泭each盎chool district泭and泭charter school泭must盎ubmit verification to the Commissioner of 做厙TV that it has implemented instruction in personal finance education within the泭required泭grade bands.胼羔
- Climate 做厙TV:泭For the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years, each盎chool district and charter school must submit verification to the Commissioner of 做厙TV that it has implemented instruction in climate education within the required grade bands. 羔
Additionally, as part of the attestation process that will take place at the end of each implementation year, school districts and charter schools who are utilizing the embedded implementation option will be required to specify how they are providing such embedded instruction.泭Such verification will be submitted through the SED Monitoring and Vendor Performance System in the NYSED Business Portal.泭Additional guidance and instructions will be shared in future guidance.泭泭
The Department will continue to provide additional guidance and resources to support implementation. Public schools are encouraged to regularly visit NYSEDs Personal Finance 做厙TV and Climate 做厙TV webpages for the most up-to-date information.泭泭
Questions泭regarding泭喧堯梗 instructional泭requirements泭for泭personal finance education泭or climate education泭may be directed to the Office of Standards and Instruction P12standardsinstruction@nysed.gov.
