WA Lawmakers Introduce Financial Education Legislation

Posted by Joe Adamack on December 19, 2023

Legislation to include financial education as a graduation requirement in Washington public schools was announced this week by a bipartisan coalition of state legislators. House Bill 1915, sponsored by Rep. Skyler Rude (R-Walla Walla) and Senate Bill 5819, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle) would phase financial education curriculum into K-12 classrooms and culminate with a half-credit requirement beginning with the class of 2029.

State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, whose office operates a financial education program and supports Washington’s Financial Education Public-Private Partnership (FEPPP), has been highlighting the growing need for financial literacy and engaging with communities around the state to elevate the issue ahead of the 2024 legislative session.

“Financial literacy is an essential skill that can help individuals seize economic opportunities, plan for their futures and weather financial hardships,” said Pellicciotti. “As I’ve met with community organizations, small business owners, elected officials, and educators around the state, the necessity of equipping Washingtonians with basic financial skills in today’s increasingly complex world is one of those rare issues which finds nearly universal consensus.”

Treasurer Pellicciotti is a strong credit union supporter and addressed credit union advocates at the Day at the Capitol earlier this year in Olympia.

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Washington Advocacy.