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
ճǰԻܳisto inform you that at their March 2026 meeting, the Board of Regentsapproved for permanent adoptionٳ to require instruction in personal financeeducation and climate education for public schools.These regulations become permanently effective onMarch 25, 2026.
The 鶹ýӳ (鶹ýӳ or “the Department”) 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.This memorandum is intended to support public schools in the effective implementation of K-12 climate education and personal finance education.
Instructional Requirement
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 – 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 grade12.
The amendment provides for a multi-year phase-in approach for the new instructional requirements in personal finance education and climate education:
| New Instructional Requirement | Middle Grade Band (Grades 5– 8) and High School Grade Band (Grades 9–12) | Elementary Grade Band (Grades K–4) |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Finance Education | Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year (SY) | Beginning with the 2027–2028 SY |
| Climate Education | Beginning with the 2027–2028 SY | Beginning with the 2028–2029 SY |
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
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.
Personal Finance:
- Budgeting and Money Management
- Credit and Debt Management
- Earning Income
- Risk Management
- Saving and Investing
Climate Education:
- Causes of Climate Change
- Impacts of Climate Change
- Solutions for Climate Change
The 鶹ýӳ 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鶹ýӳ State Portrait of a Graduate.
To support instructional planning, the Department will develop grade bandobjectivesthat reflect a coherent and developmentallyappropriate progressionof learning in personal finance education and climate education. Theseobjectiveswillassisteducators in designing instruction that builds across elementary, middle, and high school levels.Additionalinformationregardingٳ grade bandobjectivesisforthcoming.
The amendment providesflexibility in local implementation. Instruction in personal finance educationand climate educationcan be providedthroughone or more of the following implementation options:
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Embedded Instruction:Instruction isintentionally 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 thebroadtopics by the end of suchgradeband. Instruction must be delivered by a teacher appropriately certified in the subject area where the embedded instruction is occurring.
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Stand-Alone Course(s):Instruction is providedina dedicated course or courses within a designated grade band. Students must receiveinstructionthataddressesٳbroadtopics by the end of suchgradeband. Instruction must be delivered by a teacher appropriately certified to teach suchcourse.
Additionally, for personal finance education, public schools have a third option:
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Careerand Technical Education Programming:At the middle level gradeband, studentsmay receive instruction in personal finance through the Financial and ConsumerLiteracymodule, which may be offered as part of the 1.75 unitmiddle-level CTE requirement. At the high school level, students may receive instruction in personal finance by participating in 鶹ýӳ-approved CTEprograms that includeDzԱ half unit of Career and Financial Management. A 鶹ýӳ-approved CTE program is a program developed which meets the guidelines insection100.5(d)(6) of Commissioner’sRegulations. Instructionprovided through this optionmustaddressall ofٳbroadpersonal finance topics andbe provided by an appropriately certified CTE teacher.
Public schoolsare encouraged toutilizeas many of the available options as practical.For example,a school could provide embedded instruction in grades K–8 and a stand‑alone course in grades 9–12, provided that instruction is delivered within the prescribed grade bands and meets the regulatory requirements.
ReportingRequirement
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.
- Personal Finance Education:For the 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 school years,each school districtandcharter schoolmust submit verification to the Commissioner of Education that it has implemented instruction in personal finance education within therequiredgrade bands.
- Climate Education:For the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years, each school 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.
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.Such verification will be submitted through the SED Monitoring and Vendor Performance System in the 鶹ýӳ Business Portal.Additional guidance and instructions will be shared in future guidance.
The Department will continue to provide additional guidance and resources to support implementation. Public schools are encouraged to regularly visit 鶹ýӳ’s Personal Finance Education and Climate Education webpages for the most up-to-date information.
Questionsregardingٳ instructionalrequirementsforpersonal finance educationor climate educationmay be directed to the Office of Standards and Instruction P12standardsinstruction@nysed.gov.
