Hawaii 2030 grads need financial literacy
Hawaii's Department of Education has made financial literacy a graduation requirement for the class of 2030. Implementation methods will vary by school, with concerns raised about teacher training and resource equity.
Hawaii will require the high school class of 2030 to complete financial literacy lessons to graduate. The state Department of Education developed program standards but has not mandated specific teacher training, leading to varied implementation across schools. You can see the state's academic standings and other requirements.
Some schools, like Pearl City High, offer a dedicated semester-long course. Teacher Tammy Yoon uses a new state curriculum with online simulations. Students compare job offers and navigate career changes in local industries. Yoon said students enjoy applying lessons to their own lives.
Other schools will incorporate lessons into existing classes or use online programs. McKinley High School is piloting an online program with interactive games and flashcards for older students before rolling it out to the class of 2030. The flexibility aims to ensure all schools can offer some form of instruction, according to Teri Ushijima, an assistant superintendent.
Implementation Concerns
Advocates and lawmakers worry the flexible approach will create unequal student experiences. David Sun-Miyashiro of HawaiʻiKidsCAN argued that the flexibility would codify unequal experiences across the system. More than two dozen other states require a stand-alone personal finance course for graduation.
Last year, only 838 high school students-about 2% of the state's high school population-were enrolled in a financial literacy course. Just over 5,750 middle and high schoolers used free online lessons. Schools must significantly expand offerings to reach all graduates by 2030.
Students will document their financial literacy lessons through personal transition plans, which track career and college preparation. Completing a transition plan is mandatory for graduation.
Calls for Dedicated Courses
Some educators believe a dedicated course is essential. At Hawaiʻi Technology Academy's Līhuʻe campus, teacher Paul Schmitz runs a stand-alone class. Students research college tuition, calculate loan interest, build budgets, and simulate stock market investing. Guanlin Gao of Chaminade University's Economic Education Center for Excellence agrees, stating that economics and personal finance is not just nice to have, but something people have to have.
Earlier this year, lawmakers passed a resolution asking the education department to update graduation requirements to include a stand-alone class. Senate Education Chair Donna Kim said integrating lessons into other classes or online modules does not meet the level of need for students. The department will revise graduation requirements over the next year, considering community feedback and analyzing schedule impacts. Any new requirements approved by the state board would take effect in the 2028-29 school year.
Teacher Training Shortfall
A key support system for teacher training is disappearing. Hawaiʻi Pacific University's Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Education, which trained over 2,000 teachers in the last four years, will close on September 21 due to a lack of funding. Its director, Gerard Dericks, said many teachers feel left in the dark on this requirement.
Teacher Katt Sekiguchi from Baldwin High School on Maui said Dericks's course was crucial for her confidence. She said it was a loss. With the center's closure, professional development options for educators expected to teach financial literacy are uncertain. Teachers can find more resources on our stats page.
The rollout continues as the freshman class of 2030 begins its high school journey.
