HB 674: State Board of Education; adopt content standards for instruction in financial literacy and money management for grades four and five

Georgia law already requires some financial literacy instruction in schools, but this bill adds a specific requirement for younger students. It amends Georgia's financial literacy law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-149.4) to require the State Board of Education to adopt content standards for financial literacy and money management instruction aimed at fourth and fifth graders, with a deadline of January 1, 2026. Once those standards exist, every local school board in Georgia would have to provide this instruction to students in grades four and five, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill allows schools to fold this instruction into an existing course rather than create a brand new standalone class, giving districts some flexibility in how they meet the requirement.

• Requires the State Board of Education to adopt content standards for financial literacy and money management instruction for grades four and five by January 1, 2026.
• Requires every local board of education in Georgia to provide financial literacy and money management instruction to students in grades four and five.
• Sets the instruction requirement to begin with the 2025-2026 school year.
• Allows local school districts to incorporate the new instruction into an existing course of study instead of creating a separate class.

The State Board of Education, which must write new content standards; local school boards and elementary school teachers, who must deliver the instruction; and fourth and fifth grade students across Georgia's public schools, who would receive this new instruction.

Fourth and fifth graders across Georgia would start receiving formal instruction in money management, something not currently required for that age group. School districts would need to adjust curricula or lesson time, and the state would need to finalize standards on a fixed timeline.

• Section 1 adds a new subsection (c) to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-149.4 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt financial literacy content standards for grades four and five by January 1, 2026.
• Section 1 also requires local boards of education to provide this instruction beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and permits incorporating it into an existing course.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision.

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

• Miriam Paris (D, HD-142)Patrocinador principal
• 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
• state education policy