Sponsors (12)
The bill expands and targets K–12 personal finance and entrepreneurship education and builds educator capacity, but it requires state matching, is time-limited, and relies on competitive grants that can leave gaps and add administrative burdens.
K-12 students—especially those in high-need or low-performing districts—will gain school-based personal finance and entrepreneurship education (personal credit, student loans, aid), improving money-management skills before adulthood and directing resources to students who most need them.
K-12 teachers and educators will receive professional development and supports to embed personal finance and entrepreneurship across curricula, increasing teacher capacity to deliver effective instruction.
State and local education agencies can use up to 10% of funds for evaluation and curriculum development, supporting evidence-based program improvement and stronger curricula over time.
State and local governments must provide a 25% non‑Federal match, which could strain education budgets and force trade-offs with other state or local priorities.
Students and teachers face uncertainty about long-term continuity because funding is authorized only for FY2026–FY2030 and grants are limited to up to four years, risking program sustainability after federal support ends.
Competitive grant design means some states or districts—potentially including high-need areas—may not receive funding, producing uneven geographic access to financial education.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a competitive grant program for states to expand financial literacy in K–12 schools, with state matching and subgrants to LEAs for curriculum, training, and partnerships.
Authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Education to make competitive grants to state education agencies so they can help K–12 schools teach financial literacy. Grants last up to four years, require a 25% state or local match, and must be used for school-based curriculum, teacher training, community partnerships, and related activities that prioritize high‑need and low‑performing schools. States may keep up to 10% of grant funds for technical assistance, curriculum development, guidance, or evaluation, and must subgrant most funds to local education agencies. Funding is authorized starting in FY2026 for five fiscal years, subject to appropriation, and federal funds must supplement, not supplant, existing education funding.
Introduced January 21, 2026 by Stephen F. Lynch · Last progress January 21, 2026