Is a high school course with personal finance concepts required to be taken as a graduation requirement? No, personal finance is not included in the graduation requirements, either as a stand-alone course or embedded in another course. And personal finance is not required to be offered or taken. See: Connecticut High School Graduation Requirements page 315, Sec. 10-221a. Personal finance can be taken as an elective and counted toward the career and life skills elective requirement beginning in 2021. See: Connecticut graduation requirements website link above to review the following relevant Connecticut Education Laws, page 315, Sec. 10-221a, and financial literacy related education laws on page 45, Sec. 10-16b (d) (6), and page 62, Sec. 10-16pp.
The Connecticut Department of Education has developed financial literacy education frameworks to assist educators in developing business and finance technology courses that include personal finance. See: Connecticut Personal Finance Education Frameworks. Connecticut has also developed a 'cross walk' that shows how personal finance concepts can be used to teach to the Common Core Math Standards. See: Connecticut Math Standards and Personal Finance Concepts.
In 2015, Connecticut implemented a law that requires the State Board of Education to make available a financial literacy curriculum, other materials and assistance to local and regional school districts. These tools are to be designed by three educationrelated state entities. See: Connecticut Enabling Legislation SB 319. Jump$tart Connecticut research found that 90% of Connecticut high schools offer a personal finance course, but less than 7% require students to take a course in personal finance for graduation. See: Connecticut Jump$tart Report. The Connecticut Department of Education provides a robust personal finance resources page. See: Connecticut Financial Literacy Resources.