What Kentucky requires
Kentucky now has two cohort rules. Students who entered grade 9 on or before June 30, 2025 must complete one or more courses or programs meeting the financial literacy standards. Students entering grade 9 on or after July 1, 2025 must complete a full one-credit financial literacy course.[1][3]
The new course is a graduation requirement and must be accepted as an elective. It must align with the student's Individual Learning Plan and cover budgeting, saving and investing, credit and debt, insurance and risk, taxes, and careful review of documents before signing, including the ability to sign in cursive.[1][5]
Kentucky does not prescribe one statewide curriculum or require one universally stand-alone course. Local superintendents determine curricula after consulting local boards, school councils, and principals, while the Department identifies eligible course codes. Current guidance lists general, mathematics, CTE, interdisciplinary, and special-education course options.[1][5]
The 2025 Kentucky Academic Standards contain 26 high-school financial literacy standards across earning and income, credit and debt, decision-making and money management, saving and investing, money and the economy, and insurance and risk management.[4][7]
- Grades / placement
- Grades 9-12
- Responsible agency
- Kentucky Department of Education and Kentucky Board of Education
- Assessment required
- Not located
- Evidence
- 8 primary sources
Implementation timeline
- Milestone 01
The first cohort covered by Kentucky's original standards-completion graduation requirement entered grade 9.[4]
- Milestone 02
The governor signed HB 342, creating the one-credit course requirement for the July 2025-and-later entering cohort.[2]
- Milestone 03
The current 704 KAR 8:080 became effective, incorporating the June 2025 Career Studies and Financial Literacy standards.[3]
- Milestone 04
KDE issued supplemental course-code and credit guidance for the new one-credit requirement.[5]
Kentucky personal finance standards
The complete list below contains all 26 required personal finance topics currently identified in the controlling state materials. Each topic remains separate so educators and search engines can find the exact requirement.
Kentucky Academic Standards: Career Studies and Financial Literacy
Adopted by Kentucky Board of Education.
Open the official documentEarning and income
Five standards connect education, careers, compensation, taxes, and postsecondary financing.
- 01
Identify the financial impacts of a career choice, including goals,…
Identify the financial impacts of a career choice, including goals, education, training, and employment type.[4]
- 02
Analyze how economic conditions affect income and career opportunities
Analyze how economic conditions affect income and career opportunities.[4]
- 03
Evaluate costs and funding sources for postsecondary education and…
Evaluate costs and funding sources for postsecondary education and training, including FAFSA and repayment obligations.[4]
- 04
Analyze employment compensation, benefits, retirement plans, and…
Analyze employment compensation, benefits, retirement plans, and non-income tradeoffs.[4]
- 05
Analyze net income, tax liability, earnings statements, taxable income,…
Analyze net income, tax liability, earnings statements, taxable income, and common federal forms.[4]
Credit and debt
Two broad standards require practical analysis of reports, scores, borrowing costs, debt, and consumer responsibilities.
- 01
Develop strategies to control and manage credit and debt, including…
Develop strategies to control and manage credit and debt, including reports, scores, repayment trouble, and bankruptcy.[4]
- 02
Analyze credit costs and benefits, creditworthiness, loan types,…
Analyze credit costs and benefits, creditworthiness, loan types, borrower rights, and high-cost lending.[4]
Decision-making and money management
Six standards address behavioral influences, goals, budgets, institutions, payments, and professional services.
- 01
Identify why people make financial choices and analyze emotions,…
Identify why people make financial choices and analyze emotions, responsibility, opportunity cost, social media, and marketing.[4]
- 02
Explore decision-making and goal-setting models for informed consumer…
Explore decision-making and goal-setting models for informed consumer choices.[4]
- 03
Identify the components of a personal budget, including goals, fixed and…
Identify the components of a personal budget, including goals, fixed and variable expenses, emergency funds, insurance, and tracking tools.[4]
- 04
Identify major financial institutions and their products and services
Identify major financial institutions and their products and services.[4]
- 05
Demonstrate checks, debit cards, and digital payment methods
Demonstrate checks, debit cards, and digital payment methods.[4]
- 06
Identify and compare the roles of financial planners, counselors,…
Identify and compare the roles of financial planners, counselors, accountants, investment consultants, and insurance agents.[4]
Saving and investing
Four standards cover time value, investment choices, strategy, and financial technology.
- 01
Examine inflation, compounding, return on investment, and other…
Examine inflation, compounding, return on investment, and other implications of the time value of money.[4]
- 02
Evaluate insured deposits, savings accounts, retirement opportunities,…
Evaluate insured deposits, savings accounts, retirement opportunities, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds.[4]
- 03
Explain investment strategy in relation to goals, risk and reward,…
Explain investment strategy in relation to goals, risk and reward, tolerance, diversification, and rebalancing.[4]
- 04
Explore investment technologies, automation, access, digital platforms,…
Explore investment technologies, automation, access, digital platforms, mobile applications, and robo-advising.[4]
Money and the economy
Six standards connect household finance to money, intermediaries, taxation, markets, public insurance, and regulators.
- 01
Interpret the functions of money and the effects of inflation on…
Interpret the functions of money and the effects of inflation on purchasing power.[4]
- 02
Identify how financial intermediaries connect savers and lenders
Identify how financial intermediaries connect savers and lenders.[4]
- 03
Explain how government uses taxation to raise revenue, manage the…
Explain how government uses taxation to raise revenue, manage the economy, and influence behavior.[4]
- 04
Explain how supply and demand allocate scarce goods and services and…
Explain how supply and demand allocate scarce goods and services and determine prices.[4]
- 05
Explain government administration of Medicare, Medicaid, Social…
Explain government administration of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, unemployment, and workers' compensation.[4]
- 06
Identify federal and state financial regulators and their roles
Identify federal and state financial regulators and their roles.[4]
Insurance and risk management
Three standards require students to compare risk-management tools, insurance choices, and information-protection strategies.
- 01
Identify insurance, legal contracts, emergency funds, and estate…
Identify insurance, legal contracts, emergency funds, and estate planning as risk-management strategies.[4]
- 02
Analyze insurance costs, benefits, required coverage, premiums, policy…
Analyze insurance costs, benefits, required coverage, premiums, policy losses, and tax implications.[4]
- 03
Identify strategies to protect personal financial information and…
Identify strategies to protect personal financial information and respond to identity theft and fraud.[4]
Relevant law, rule, or board action
KRS 158.1411
Financial literacy requirements for high school graduationCreates the standards-completion requirement for earlier cohorts and the one-credit financial literacy course for students entering grade 9 on or after July 1, 2025.[1]
704 KAR 8:080
Kentucky Academic Standards for Career Studies and Financial LiteracyEstablishes the minimum statewide content standards in essential skills, careers, and financial literacy.[3]
Notes for teachers and curriculum leaders
- Apply the correct cohort rule. Students entering grade 9 on or after July 1, 2025 owe one full elective credit; earlier covered cohorts may complete standards through one or more courses or programs.[1][5]
- Select an eligible local offering and ensure the curriculum covers all 26 high-school financial literacy standards plus the statutory document-review and cursive-signature content. KDE's current options include general, mathematics, CTE, interdisciplinary, and special-education course codes.[5][4]
- The requirement also applies to students in the Early Graduation Program, even though that program does not otherwise require the standard 22-credit minimum.[1][8]
Official sources
- 1KRS 158.1411 — Financial literacy requirements for high school graduationLocator: Subsections (1)-(10)Supports: cohort rules, one-credit course, elective treatment, minimum content, local curriculum, early graduation
- 2House Bill 342, 2025 Regular SessionLocator: Last action and Acts Chapter 58Supports: enactment, signature date
- 3704 KAR 8:080 — Kentucky Academic Standards for Career Studies and Financial LiteracyLocator: Section 1, incorporated June 2025 standards, and regulatory historySupports: standards authority, grade bands, three domains, graduation alignment, effective date
- 4Kentucky Academic Standards: Career Studies and Financial LiteracyLocator: PDF pages 29-33, FL.H.1 through FL.H.26Supports: complete high-school standards, six strands, state graduation alignment
- 5HB 342 Financial Literacy Elective Course Code GuidanceLocator: PDF pages 1-3, credit types and course-code considerationsSupports: implementation, course codes, Carnegie and performance-based credit, district discretion, minimum topics
- 6Minimum High School Graduation RequirementsLocator: Minimum graduation requirements and HB 342 resourcesSupports: current graduation framework, official implementation resources
- 7Career Studies Standards ResourcesLocator: Financial Literacy domainSupports: current standards access, 9-12 graduation alignment
- 8Early Graduation ProgramLocator: Coursework requirements, financial literacySupports: early graduation application, cohort distinction
Frequently asked questions
Does Kentucky require financial literacy to graduate?
Yes. Students entering grade 9 on or after July 1, 2025 must complete a one-credit financial literacy course. Earlier covered cohorts must complete one or more courses or programs meeting the standards.[1]
When does Kentucky's one-credit personal finance requirement begin?
It begins with students entering grade 9 on or after July 1, 2025. The controlling source defines the covered entering cohort rather than naming a graduating class.[1][5]
Does Kentucky require one dedicated stand-alone financial literacy course?
No. Covered students must earn one credit in an eligible financial literacy course, but KDE guidance permits interdisciplinary and locally selected qualifying course options rather than one universal stand-alone course.[1][5]
How does the Kentucky financial literacy credit count?
The required credit must be accepted as an elective. KDE guidance also explains how approved courses may use Carnegie-unit or qualifying performance-based credit.[1][5]
What must Kentucky's financial literacy course cover?
State law requires budgeting, saving and investing, credit and debt, insurance and risk management, taxes, document review before signing, and a cursive signature. The adopted standards add detailed expectations across 26 high-school standards.[1][4]
Who chooses Kentucky's financial literacy curriculum?
Local superintendents determine curricula after consulting local boards, school councils, and principals, while KDE identifies course codes that qualify and the state standards define required learning.[1][5]