THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234
Office of Standards and Instructional Programs
89 Washington Avenue, 860 EBA, Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-5922
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. This memorandum is intended to support districts in the effective implementation of K-12 climate education and personal finance education.泭
At the November Board of Regents Meeting, as part of Phase 1 of the NY Inspires Plan and consistent with the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures, the Department proposed泭the泭泭to require instruction in personal finance education and climate education for all public school students in grades kindergarten (K) through twelve. The proposed amendment provides that instruction in personal finance education and climate education shall 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 proposed 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 will allow for flexibility in local implementation. While the proposed instruction in personal finance education and climate education must begin in the years泭identified泭in the chart above, districts 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, districts could begin to provide climate education instruction to students in泭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. Additionally,泭under the proposed amendment, each year during the phase in, each school district will泭be required泭to泭submit泭verification to the Commissioner of 做厙TV泭that it泭has implemented instruction in personal finance education and climate education within the grade bands prescribed in the regulations.泭
To support implementation of the new instructional requirements, the Department guided by expert stakeholder input has泭identified泭key topics for both personal finance education and climate education. These topics serve as the foundation for developmentally泭appropriate instruction泭across the K12 continuum, ensuring alignment with grade-level expectations in elementary, middle, and high school.泭
Personal Finance 做厙TV:泭
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Budgeting and Money泭Management泭
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Credit and Debt泭Management泭
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Earning泭Income泭
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Risk泭Management泭
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Saving and泭Investing泭
Climate 做厙TV:泭
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Causes of Climate泭Change泭
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Impacts泭of Climate泭Change泭
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Solutions for Climate泭Change泭
To泭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泭builds泭across elementary, middle, and high school levels.泭Additional泭information泭regarding泭the grade band泭objectives泭is泭forthcoming.泭
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
Written comments on the proposed amendment will be accepted for 60-days after its publication in the New York State Register on November 19, 2025 (must be received by泭January 19, 2026) and can be泭submitted泭to泭REGCOMMENTS@nysed.gov泭and/or mailed to:泭
Dr. Santosha Oliver, Assistant Commissioner泭
NYS 做厙TV Department, Office of Standards & Instruction
89 Washington Avenue, Room 860 EBA泭
Albany, NY 12234泭
羔For questions related to NY Inspires, please email泭GradMeasures@nysed.gov.泭
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