Grade A for the Class of 2030. In May of 2025, Governor Polis signed into law a bill that requires students who enter ninth grade on or after September 1, 2026 (the Class of 2030), to complete a financial literacy course as a public high school graduation requirement. The course must incorporate all of the financial literacy standards developed by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The law also requires that beginning with the graduating Class of 2028, students in their graduating year, as part of each student’s individual career and academic plan (ICAP) must have exposure to federal financial aid eligibility tools and net price calculators and practices for filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CAFSA). The goal of this requirement is to ensure that students know how to fill out these forms if the student intends to seek postsecondary degree credentials. This requirement is waived if the adult student or such student’s parents or guardians affirmatively declines to practice filling out the applications or if school personnel determine it is not feasible for the student to practice filling out the application. The law provides funding for the new financial literacy course requirement. For Fiscal Year 2025-26, the bill requires and includes an appropriation of approximately $210,000 to the CDE. The bill requires the CDE to distribute money to support school districts that do not currently offer a financial literacy course based on a formula that CDE determines.The law requires each local school district board of education to incorporate all the financial literacy standards into a course that is required for high school graduation. The act authorizes the CDE to seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations for the purpose of supporting educators in implementing a financial literacy course.
2030