Nevada - 2017

Final Grade

C

Graduation Requirements

Is a high school course with personal finance concepts required to be taken as a graduation requirement? No, a specifically identified course with personal finance concepts is not a graduation requirement. The state does mandate that financial literacy topics be taught in high school but leaves it up to the local districts to specify how the content will be provided. See: Nevada High School Financial Literacy Requirement (scroll to NRS 389.074; for high school graduation requirements see NRS 389.018).

High School Education Standards

The same rule specifies the minimum content required to be taught. See: Nevada High School Financial Literacy Requirement. The Nevada Department of Education provides guidance for teachers. See: Nevada Financial Literacy Guidance (click on Guidance Document). This document states that it "is not policy nor is it meant to be a curriculum guide; rather, it is a tool to aid school districts in the implementation of the law requiring instruction in financial literacy." It also suggests that financial literacy content could be provided via accounting and finance, business management, entrepreneurship, family and consumer sciences, economics and civics courses.

Extra Credit

In 2017, Nevada passed legislation that would require more robust financial literacy standards as well as funding for professional development for up to $2.5MM over two years. Exactly how this new law will be implemented is still unclear and currently under consideration by the State Board of Education and the Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools. If the standards are embedded in a course required for graduation (such as economics), Nevada's grade could improve to a B. See: Nevada Bill 249. The Nevada Department of Education provides an extensive list of financial literacy resources. See: Nevada Financial Literacy Resources (click on "High School Student Resource List").

Caveat

It is not clear how Nevada measures student achievement in financial literacy or how the state monitors local school district implementation of the financial literacy education requirement.