Requiring all students to take a financial literacy course can help reduce such inequality, Mr. Pelletier said. Carly Urban, a professor of economics at Montana State University who studies financial literacy, said that discussions about what topics should be taught in classrooms are often bitterly divisive, but state legislators appear to be finding common ground supporting high school financial instruction. Most American adults said they wanted their states to require a semester- or yearlong financial course to graduate from high school, according to a 2022 poll from the National Endowment for Financial Education. Over the years, questions have arisen about whether high school financial literacy classes are effective. High school financial instruction, she said, “overwhelmingly” improves credit scores, lowers loan delinquency rates and reduces the use of risky services like payday lending.

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Persons: —, Pelletier, Carly Urban, Urban, “ Organizations: FINRA Investor Education Foundation, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Montana State University, National Endowment, Financial Education, Champlain College