Skip to main content
Powered byLyfe Course
StatesRequirements
Need a curriculum?Explore Lyfe Course
Home›States›Montana

Montana personal finance standards and requirements

Flag of Montana

Montana generally requires students in the graduating class of 2026 and later to complete one-half unit of economics or financial literacy. The half unit must fit within the required social studies, mathematics, or career and technical education units, and aligned equivalent courses are permitted. The Board approved a one-year variance delaying the requirement to the class of 2027 for Billings Public Schools. Because economics and equivalent courses can satisfy the rule, Montana does not impose a universal stand-alone personal finance course requirement.[1][2][8][9]

Last reviewed September 20, 2026

View official sources
Stand-alone course
No
Graduation requirement
Yes
Credit / duration
0.5 unit of economics or financial literacy
Effective / cohort
2026 statewide; 2027 in Billings under an approved variance

What Montana requires

Montana's financial literacy graduation rule took effect July 1, 2025 and first applies to the graduating class of 2026. It adds one-half unit of economics or financial literacy within the state's existing 20-unit minimum rather than adding a separate credit above that total.[1][2][3]

The requirement is flexible. The half unit may count within social studies, mathematics, or career and technical education, and a locally approved equivalent course can satisfy the requirement when it meets the district's curriculum and assessment rules aligned to state content standards.[1][6]

Montana does not have one stand-alone set of adopted high school personal finance standards. OPI instead publishes a multidisciplinary crosswalk that organizes relevant standards around six financial literacy themes and provides eligible financial literacy and economics course codes. The social studies standards also require students to explain how economic cycles affect personal financial decisions.[3][4][5]

House Bill 535, enacted in 2023, added financial literacy instruction to Montana's legislative goals. The graduation requirement itself comes from Board of Public Education Rule 10.55.905, so the statute and rule should not be treated as interchangeable.[7][1]

The statewide rule begins with the class of 2026, but the Board of Public Education approved Billings Public Schools' initial one-year variance in November 2025. The district's application delays ARM 10.55.905(2)(h) to the class of 2027, so the statewide first-class label has a documented local exception.[8][9]

The half unit may be completed within the required social studies, mathematics, or career and technical education units. An equivalent course may satisfy the rule if it meets locally adopted curriculum and assessment requirements aligned to Montana content standards. Economics is an alternative to financial literacy. The Board approved Billings Public Schools' one-year variance through the class of 2026, making class of 2027 the district's first covered class.[1][2][3][4][8][9]
Grades / placement
High school
Responsible agency
Montana Office of Public Instruction
Assessment required
Yes
Evidence
9 primary sources

Implementation timeline

  1. Milestone 01

    The Board of Public Education approved the current social studies standards, including the high school economics standard on personal financial decisions.[3]

  2. Milestone 02

    The current social studies standards became effective.[5]

  3. Milestone 03

    The Board of Public Education voted to delay the new graduation requirement to July 1, 2025, making the class of 2026 the first covered class.[2]

  4. Milestone 04

    House Bill 535 added support for financial literacy instruction to Montana's legislative goals for public schools.[7]

  5. Milestone 05

    The half-unit economics or financial literacy graduation requirement took effect.[1]

  6. Milestone 06

    The first graduating class is required to satisfy the half-unit rule.[2]

  7. Milestone 07

    The Board approved Billings Public Schools' one-year variance, delaying that district's implementation to the class of 2027.[8]

Montana personal finance standards

The complete list below contains all 7 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.

Official standards document

Montana Content Standards for Social Studies for K-12

Adopted by Montana Board of Public Education on 2020-11-05.

Open the official document

Montana's six financial literacy themes

OPI's grades 9-12 multidisciplinary crosswalk uses six themes to organize economics and financial literacy standards across content areas.

  1. 01
    Theme IGrades 9-12 multidisciplinary crosswalkSummary of Themes, rows 6-11

    Earning Income: examine wage and nonwage income, employee benefits,…

    Earning Income: examine wage and nonwage income, employee benefits, education and training decisions, career potential, opportunity cost, and taxes that reduce gross income.[4]

  2. 02
    Theme IIGrades 9-12 multidisciplinary crosswalkSummary of Themes, rows 6-11

    Spending: use budgets to allocate spendable income and evaluate price,…

    Spending: use budgets to allocate spendable income and evaluate price, quality, product information, payment methods, personal preferences, needs, peers, and advertising.[4]

  3. 03
    Theme IIIGrades 9-12 multidisciplinary crosswalkSummary of Themes, rows 6-11

    Saving: connect saving decisions to goals and circumstances and compare…

    Saving: connect saving decisions to goals and circumstances and compare insured transaction accounts, interest rates, fees, access, risk, and compound interest.[4]

  4. 04
    Theme IVGrades 9-12 multidisciplinary crosswalkSummary of Themes, rows 6-11

    Investing: evaluate financial assets, long-term goals, compound growth,…

    Investing: evaluate financial assets, long-term goals, compound growth, expected return, risk tolerance, diversification, and the relationship between risk and return.[4]

  5. 05
    Theme VGrades 9-12 multidisciplinary crosswalkSummary of Themes, rows 6-11

    Managing Credit: evaluate borrowing choices, interest and fees,…

    Managing Credit: evaluate borrowing choices, interest and fees, creditworthiness, credit reports and scores, common loan types, and ways to finance postsecondary education.[4]

  6. 06
    Theme VIGrades 9-12 multidisciplinary crosswalkSummary of Themes, rows 6-11

    Managing Risk: identify risks to income, property, health, life, and…

    Managing Risk: identify risks to income, property, health, life, and identity and evaluate risk reduction, insurance, premiums, expected losses, and identity-theft prevention.[4]

High school economics standard connected to personal finance

Montana's adopted social studies standards include a direct expectation about economic cycles and personal financial decisions.

  1. 01
    SS.E.9-12.2Grades 9-12 economicsPDF page 15

    Explain how economic cycles affect personal financial decisions

    Explain how economic cycles affect personal financial decisions.[5]

Relevant law, rule, or board action

ARM 10.55.905(2)(h)

Graduation Requirements

Requires one-half unit of economics or financial literacy within the required social studies, mathematics, or career and technical education units and permits equivalent courses aligned to local curriculum and assessment requirements.[1]

MCA § 20-1-102(9)

Legislative goals for public elementary and secondary schools

States a legislative goal of supporting financial literacy instruction so students obtain the knowledge and skills required to succeed financially.[7]

Notes for teachers and curriculum leaders

  • Schedule the half unit within social studies, mathematics, or CTE and document how the course or equivalent learning experience meets local curriculum and assessment requirements aligned to state standards.[1][6]
  • Do not describe Montana as requiring a stand-alone personal finance course. Economics is expressly permitted, and OPI identifies multiple eligible subject areas and course codes.[1][3]
  • Use the OPI multidisciplinary crosswalk to identify the relevant standards for the locally selected delivery path.[4][3]
  • Apply the class-of-2027 start only to Billings Public Schools under the approved one-year variance; the statewide rule otherwise begins with the class of 2026.[8][9]

Official sources

  1. 1
    ARM 10.55.905: Graduation RequirementsMontana Board of Public Education · regulation · published 2023 · accessed 2026-09-20Locator: Subsections (1), (2), and (2)(h), effective July 1, 2025Supports: half-unit requirement, graduation requirement, 20-unit minimum, eligible subject areas, equivalent courses, local assessment
  2. 2
    Superintendent Arntzen Acknowledges the Importance of Changing New Graduation Requirement Effective DateMontana Office of Public Instruction · agency guidance · published 2023-04-12 · accessed 2026-09-20Locator: Board action and implementation statementSupports: July 1, 2025 effective date, class of 2026, unanimous Board vote
  3. 3
    K-12 Content Standards and Resources: Financial Literacy in MontanaMontana Office of Public Instruction · agency guidance · accessed 2026-09-20Locator: Financial Literacy in Montana sectionSupports: class of 2026, multidisciplinary standards crosswalk, course codes, current social studies implementation
  4. 4
    Economics-Financial Literacy Multidisciplinary Standards Crosswalk, Grades 9-12Montana Office of Public Instruction · agency guidance · accessed 2026-09-20Locator: Summary of Themes and grades 9-12 standards crosswalkSupports: six financial literacy themes, multidisciplinary alignment, standards guidance
  5. 5
    Montana Content Standards for Social Studies for K-12Montana Office of Public Instruction · standards · published 2021-04-05 · accessed 2026-09-20Locator: PDF page 15, SS.E.9-12.2Supports: adopted high school economics standard, personal financial decisions, July 1, 2021 effective date
  6. 6
    Financial Literacy and Economics StandardsMontana Board of Public Education · board action · published 2023-03-22 · accessed 2026-09-20Locator: ARM 10.55.904 and 10.55.905 excerptsSupports: integration flexibility, existing 20-unit total, social studies, mathematics, and CTE placement
  7. 7
    MCA § 20-1-102: Legislative goals for public elementary and secondary schoolsMontana Legislature · statute · accessed 2026-09-20Locator: Subsection (9), enacted by House Bill 535 in 2023Supports: legislative goal, financial literacy instruction
  8. 8
    Montana Board of Public Education Meeting Minutes, November 19-20, 2025Montana Board of Public Education · board action · published 2025-11 · accessed 2026-09-20Locator: PDF pages 3-4, Item 9Supports: Billings variance approval, Board action, financial literacy variance
  9. 9
    Billings Public Schools Initial Variance to Standards ApplicationMontana Office of Public Instruction and Billings Public Schools · board action · published 2025 · accessed 2026-09-20Locator: PDF pages 22-23, Billings Board actionSupports: one-year variance, class of 2027 implementation, ARM 10.55.905(2)(h)

Report a correction to this record

Read how state requirements are researched and classified

Frequently asked questions

Does Montana require financial literacy to graduate?

Montana requires one-half unit of economics or financial literacy for the class of 2026 and later. A student can satisfy the rule through economics, so personal finance is not the only permitted subject.[1][2]

Does Montana require a stand-alone personal finance course?

No. The half unit may be placed within social studies, mathematics, or career and technical education, and an aligned equivalent course may satisfy the rule.[1][6]

Which Montana graduating class is first affected?

The class of 2026 is the first class under the statewide rule. An approved one-year variance delays implementation for Billings Public Schools until the class of 2027.[2][1][8][9]

What standards apply to Montana financial literacy courses?

OPI publishes a multidisciplinary grades 9-12 crosswalk built around earning income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit, and managing risk. Districts select the applicable state standards for their chosen delivery path.[4][3]

Can Montana districts require more than the state minimum?

Yes. ARM 10.55.905 establishes a statewide minimum, while local districts set their own graduation requirements and curriculum within that framework.[1]