GRADE
A
SUMMARY OF GRADE
-
Significant Accomplishments: Required high school financial literacy instruction and stand-alone course; K-12 financial literacy standards; Personal Finance webpage
AN IN-DEPTH LOOK
In the 2021 session, the Nebraska Legislature introduced and passed Legislative Bill 452, which establishes the Financial Literacy Act. “Under this bill the State Department of Education (NDE) is required to create and distribute financial literacy curriculum guidelines to all school districts. Each school district must then create and incorporate a financial literacy program into all phases of grades K-12 based on the guidelines from NDE. Such changes shall not change the number of instructional hours or [sic] prescribed for elementary and high school students or the number of instructional hours dedicated to existing curriculum.” This bill was amended to add elements of LB 327, including the requirement of a half-credit personal finance course for graduation.
The Nebraska State Board of Education Social Studies Standards also lists the K-12 social studies standards. Nebraska provides financial literacy standards for grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-8, and high school. Under economics for each grade, financial literacy is a standard with its own specific standards for each grade, respectively. This ensures each Nebraska student receives financial literacy in each grade, K-12.
Nebraska also provides a Personal Finance webpage with lesson plans and curricula website links.
Nebraska receives an “A” for financial literacy instruction, as it provides instruction in Grades K-12 through its social studies standards as well as requiring the completion of a personal finance course before graduation.