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
罢丑颈蝉听尘别尘辞谤补苍诲耻尘听is听to inform you that at their March 2026 meeting, the Board of Regents听approved for permanent adoption听迟丑别 to require instruction in personal finance听education and climate education for public schools.听These regulations become permanently effective on听March 25, 2026.听
The 91社区 (91社区 or 鈥渢he Department鈥) 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.听This memorandum is intended to support public schools in the effective implementation of K-12 climate education and personal finance education.听
Instructional Requirement听听
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 鈥 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听12.听
The amendment provides for a multi-year phase-in approach for the new instructional requirements in personal finance education and climate education:听
| New Instructional Requirement | Middle Grade Band (Grades 5鈥 8) and High School Grade Band (Grades 9鈥12) | Elementary Grade Band (Grades K鈥4)听 |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Finance Education听 | Beginning with the 2026鈥2027 school year (SY)听 | Beginning with the 2027鈥2028 SY听 |
| Climate Education听 | Beginning with the 2027鈥2028 SY听 | Beginning with the 2028鈥2029 SY听 |
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听
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.听
Personal Finance:听
- Budgeting and Money Management
- Credit and Debt Management
- Earning Income
- Risk Management
- Saving and Investing听
Climate Education:听
- 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听New York State Portrait of a Graduate.听
To support instructional planning, the Department will develop grade band听objectives听that reflect a coherent and developmentally听appropriate progression听of learning in personal finance education and climate education. These听objectives听will听assist听educators in designing instruction that builds across elementary, middle, and high school levels.听Additional听information听regarding听迟丑别 grade band听objectives听is听forthcoming.听
The amendment provides听flexibility in local implementation. Instruction in personal finance education听and climate education听can be provided听through听one or more of the following implementation options:听
-
Embedded Instruction:听Instruction is听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听broad听topics by the end of such听grade听band. Instruction must be delivered by a teacher appropriately certified in the subject area where the embedded instruction is occurring.听
-
Stand-Alone Course(s):听Instruction is provided听in听a dedicated course or courses within a designated grade band. Students must receive听instruction听that听addresses听迟丑别听broad听topics by the end of such听grade听band. Instruction must be delivered by a teacher appropriately certified to teach such听course.听
Additionally, for personal finance education, public schools have a third option:听听
-
Career听and Technical Education Programming:听At the middle level grade听band,鈥痵tudents听may receive instruction in personal finance through the鈥疐inancial and Consumer听Literacy听module,鈥痺hich may be offered鈥痑s part of the鈥1.75 unit听middle-level CTE requirement.鈥疉t the鈥痟igh school level, students may鈥痳eceive instruction in personal finance by鈥participating鈥痠n 91社区-approved CTE听programs that include听辞苍别鈥half unit鈥痮f鈥疌areer and Financial Management.鈥疉 91社区-approved CTE program is a program developed which meets the guidelines in听section听100.5(d)(6) of Commissioner鈥檚听Regulations. Instruction听provided through this option听must听address听all of听迟丑别听broad听personal finance topics and听be provided by an appropriately certified CTE teacher.鈥
Public schools听are encouraged to听utilize听as many of the available options as practical.听For example,听a school could provide embedded instruction in grades K鈥8 and a stand鈥慳lone course in grades 9鈥12, provided that instruction is delivered within the prescribed grade bands and meets the regulatory requirements.
Reporting听Requirement听
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 Education that they have implemented instruction in personal finance education and climate education within the grade bands prescribed in the regulations.听
- Personal Finance Education:听For the鈥2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 school years,听each鈥痵chool district听and听charter school听must鈥痵ubmit verification to the Commissioner of Education that it has implemented instruction in personal finance education within the听required听grade bands.鈥
- Climate Education:听For the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years, each鈥痵chool district and charter school must submit verification to the Commissioner of Education that it has implemented instruction in climate education within the required grade bands. 鈥
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.听Such verification will be submitted through the SED Monitoring and Vendor Performance System in the 91社区 Business Portal.听Additional guidance and instructions will be shared in future guidance.听听
The Department will continue to provide additional guidance and resources to support implementation. Public schools are encouraged to regularly visit 91社区鈥檚 Personal Finance Education and Climate Education webpages for the most up-to-date information.听听
Questions听regarding听迟丑别 instructional听requirements听for听personal finance education听or climate education听may be directed to the Office of Standards and Instruction P12standardsinstruction@nysed.gov.
