PGCPS Financial Literacy Work Featured in School Administrator Magazine

Author:

Communications

Aug 07, 2025

Student Success

Did you know that in 2022, Prince George’s County Public Schools became the largest district in the nation to implement a systemwide financial literacy mandate, making it a graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 2024?

This milestone is spotlighted in the August 2025 issue of School Administrator magazine, published by AASA, The School Superintendents Association. The article, part of the issue’s focus on Literacy Across the Curriculum, highlights how PGCPS turned a state-level requirement into a robust and equitable model for financial education at scale.

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The push for financial literacy in PGCPS started where it matters most: with students. Long before the district mandate, students were raising their voices in support of coursework that prepared them for the financial realities of life after graduation. They called for practical instruction on budgeting, credit, savings, and more — and the district listened.

That advocacy helped drive early action. PGCPS was ahead of the curve, launching the “Financial Literacy for Teens” course before the state graduation requirement was formally enacted. By making the course a districtwide mandate, PGCPS affirmed that student input matters — and that young people deserve the tools to shape their financial futures.

About the Courses

Financial Literacy for Teens: A required 0.5-credit course covering key topics like budgeting, credit and debt, savings and investing, and career planning. Students must complete the course to graduate.
Advanced Financial Literacy: An elective for upperclassmen that builds on the foundational course. Real-world simulations and deeper exploration of wealth-building, financial hardship, and retirement planning prepare students for long-term success.

What’s Covered in Financial Literacy?

PGCPS students don’t just learn how to manage money — they learn how to make informed, responsible decisions that affect their future. The Financial Literacy for Teens course covers:

Financial Decision-Making: Understanding how choices impact personal finances and long-term goals.
Budgeting: Learning to plan, track, and manage spending within income limits.
Saving and Investing: Exploring strategies for short- and long-term saving, interest, risk, and return.
Credit and Debt: Understanding credit scores, borrowing responsibly, and avoiding predatory lending.
Banking Basics: Navigating financial institutions, setting up accounts, and understanding fees and services.
Income and Careers: Exploring how education, career paths, and life choices affect earning potential.
Taxes and Deductions: Learning how to read a paycheck, file taxes, and understand deductions and benefits.
Insurance and Risk Management: Understanding types of insurance and how to protect assets and income.
Consumer Rights and Responsibilities: Developing skills to be informed, critical consumers in a complex financial world.

The elective, Advanced Financial Literacy, takes students deeper into applied concepts through case studies, simulations, and scenario planning. It covers: