Philadelphia Finance Program Expanded to 68 High Schools
As Pennsylvania mandates financial literacy, a local nonprofit is supporting 7,500 students with specialized classroom curriculum.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Financial Planning
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Philadelphia Financial Scholars has grown its reach to 68 city high schools this academic year to assist with the state-mandated personal finance requirement. The program provides curriculum and training to ensure students gain financial literacy before reaching legal adulthood.
Why it matters
The program aims to equip students with essential money-management skills before they face high-stakes financial decisions at age 18. This support helps schools meet the Pennsylvania state law that began requiring personal finance coursework in the 2026-27 school year.
The program currently reaches 7,500 students and supports 97 teachers, a significant scale-up from the six-school pilot launched in December 2020. The nonprofit provides 30 hours of professional development to participating educators.
The players
Philadelphia Financial Scholars
A nonprofit organization that provides financial literacy curriculum, teacher training, and enrichment programs to city schools.
Next Gen Personal Finance
A curriculum provider that offers financial education materials used by schools to teach money management.
The details
Philadelphia Financial Scholars supports local schools by providing instructional materials sourced from Next Gen Personal Finance and offering direct teacher training. The nonprofit also extends its reach through adult financial empowerment workshops for parents and caregivers, alongside student-focused events like the Teen Investors Summit. This comprehensive approach helps fulfill the state law mandating personal finance education across Pennsylvania high schools.
Timeline
2020: Woodward surveyed 44 high school principals regarding the need for finance courses.
December 2020: Philadelphia Financial Scholars began a six-school pilot program.
2023: Pennsylvania passed a state law requiring personal finance courses.
2026-27 school year: The state mandate for personal finance courses was first implemented.
Money Landscape
This effort follows the 2023 Pennsylvania law that made personal finance a requirement for high school graduation. It signals a shift toward formalizing financial literacy as a standard component of public education to prepare students for the complexities of adulthood.
Parents and caregivers of high school students should verify that their school district's personal finance offerings meet state-mandated requirements. For personalized guidance on your family's broader financial education or planning, consult a qualified financial professional.
The takeaway
Financial literacy is now a core requirement for high schoolers across the state to prepare them for independent money management. Families should review their school's course catalog to ensure students are positioned to benefit from these mandatory lessons.
Further reading
For more on managing educational costs and savings goals, visit Financial Planning.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Chestnut Hill Local.
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