Section 1551. Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs.--(a) The department shall have the power and its duty shall be to:
(1) Provide resource information on economics, economic education and personal financial literacy to educators and public and nonpublic schools and organizations. The department shall review and update its existing resource information following completion of the review of the State standards under the State Board of Education's standards under paragraph (2)(ii). ((1) amended July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
(2) Provide for the distribution, including through the department's Internet website, to school entities and nonpublic, elementary or secondary schools in this Commonwealth, of model curriculum materials and other available resources, including economic education partnership programs, on economic education and personal financial literacy, including the basic principle involved with earning, spending, saving and investing money. The model curriculum materials shall align with and complement existing State standards for personal financial literacy as set forth in 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 (relating to academic standards and assessment). The following shall apply: (Intro. par. amended July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.26)
(i) The department shall review and update its existing model curriculum materials and other available resources as necessary no later than the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year and within one year after any revision of the State standards under subparagraph (ii).
(ii) The State Board of Education shall review the existing State standards for Economics, Family and Consumer Science, and Career Education and Work as set forth in 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 and revise the standards as necessary to implement the provisions of this subarticle.
(3) Identify and recognize Commonwealth schools that implement exemplary economic and economic education and personal financial literacy curricula at each benchmark as set forth in existing State standards for Economics, Family and Consumer Science, and Career Education and Work as set forth in 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4.
(4) Maintain an inventory of model curriculum economic education and personal financial literacy materials, programs and resources available in Commonwealth agencies.
((a) amended Dec. 13, 2023, P.L.311, No.35)
(b) In distributing model curriculum materials and resources for use in schools, the department shall consider those currently available through international, national, Statewide and local economic, banking trade and personal finance education organizations. ((b) amended Dec. 13, 2023, P.L.311, No.35)
(b.1) (1) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and in each school year thereafter, a school entity or nonpublic school shall provide a mandatory course in personal financial literacy with a value of at least one-half credit or half of a full credit. Students shall be required to complete the course once during grade nine, ten, eleven or twelve.
(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to circumvent the provisions of 20 U.S.C. Ch. 33 (relating to education of individuals with disabilities). A student's individualized education program may provide for accommodations to enable the student to complete the course required under paragraph (1).
(3) The department shall develop or identify a model curriculum and a list of education materials which a school entity or nonpublic school may use in providing the course required under paragraph (1). The department shall consult with multiple organizations specializing in financial literacy education in developing the model curriculum and educational materials. The department may update existing model curriculum materials if necessary and other available resources under subsection (a) as necessary to comply with this paragraph and shall update the existing model curriculum materials and other available resources within one year of the date of revision of the State standards under subsection (a)(2)(ii).
(4) The department shall clarify which certifications are necessary to qualify an educator to provide instruction of the course required under paragraph (1), which shall include, at a minimum, family and consumer science, business, computer and information technology, mathematics and social studies. The department shall revise its certification and staffing policy guidelines as necessary to reflect the qualifications specified under this paragraph.
(5) An educator who is assigned to provide instruction of the course required under paragraph (1) may not:
(i) lose a planning period as a result of the assignment, except in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement between a school entity and an employe organization; or
(ii) bear any costs related to earning an add-on certification necessary to provide the instruction.
(5.1) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this section, a rigorous course of study that includes a targeted focus on personal financial literacy content and is embedded within a business, economics, mathematics, social studies, career and technical education or other related course shall satisfy the requirements of this subsection. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "rigorous course of study" means an academically rigorous college-level course, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge International, dual credit or a concentrated career and technical education program. ((5.1) added July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
(6) Nothing in this subsection shall supersede or preempt any provision of a collective bargaining agreement between a school entity and an employe organization.
(c) ((c) deleted by amendment July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
(d) ((d) deleted by amendment July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
(e) The department may apply for any Federal, State or other funding that may be available to carry out the provisions of this section and may also use such unencumbered funds for grants to school entities and other measures to encourage the implementation of economic education and personal financial literacy education programs.
(f) The following words and phrases when used in this section shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Department." The Department of Education of the Commonwealth.
"Educator." As defined in section 1.2 of the act of December 12, 1973 (P.L.397, No.141), known as the "Educator Discipline Act."
"Nonpublic school." A school, other than a public school, where a resident of this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this act and that meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
"Personal financial literacy." The integration of various factors relating to personal financial management, including understanding financial institutions, using money, learning to manage personal assets and liabilities, creating budgets and any other factors that may assist an individual in this Commonwealth to be financially responsible.
"Planning period." A period of time during a school day which an educator may use for professional duties, including instructional preparation and planning, communications with parents and legal guardians of students and evaluating student work.
"School entity." A school district, charter school, cyber charter school, regional charter school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
((f) amended July 12, 2026, P.L.220, No.20)
Compiler's Note: Section 12 of Act 35 of 2023 provided that the provisions of 22 Pa.Code are abrogated insofar as they are inconsistent with the amendment of section 1551.