HB674: HB674 State Board of Education; adopt content standards for instruction in financial literacy and money management for grades four and five

Georgia law already requires financial literacy instruction in schools (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-149.4), but this bill adds a new requirement specifically for younger students. It directs the State Board of Education to adopt content standards, meaning specific learning goals, for financial literacy and money management to be taught in grades four and five, with a deadline of January 1, 2026. Once those standards are adopted, every local board of education in Georgia would have to provide this instruction to fourth and fifth graders starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Districts would not need to create a brand new class; the bill allows the lessons to be folded into a course students already take. The bill ends by repealing any conflicting laws.

• Requires the State Board of Education to adopt content standards for financial literacy and money management instruction in grades four and five by January 1, 2026.
• Requires every local board of education in Georgia to provide this instruction to fourth and fifth graders starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
• Allows districts to fold the new financial literacy lessons into a course students already take, rather than creating a separate class.
• Adds this requirement as a new subsection to Georgia's existing financial literacy law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-149.4).

The State Board of Education, which must write the new content standards; local school boards and elementary schools across Georgia, which must deliver the instruction; and fourth and fifth grade students and teachers, who would take on the new financial literacy lessons.

Georgia elementary students in grades four and five would begin receiving structured lessons on money management earlier than under current law, since the existing statute did not specifically require this for those grade levels. Districts would need to adjust curriculum planning to meet the new January 1, 2026 and 2025-2026 school year deadlines.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-149.4 by adding subsection (c)(1), requiring the State Board of Education to adopt financial literacy and money management content standards for grades four and five by January 1, 2026.
• Section 1 also adds subsection (c)(2), requiring local boards of education to provide this instruction beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, with flexibility to incorporate it into an existing course.
• Section 2 repeals any laws that conflict with the new requirements.

1. 2025-02-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-27House Hopper (House)

• Miriam Paris (D, HD-142)Primary sponsor
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Will Wade (R, HD-009)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)

• financial literacy
• elementary education
• school curriculum
• money management education