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Florida bill could change graduation requirements for high school students

Florida students might have to learn money management before graduating high school, if a bill gets approved.

Lawmakers reintroduced a bill that would require students to take a half-credit course in financial literacy.

The course would focus on budgeting, paying taxes, loans, using credit cards and balancing a checkbook.

The bill says many young people in Florida graduate from high school without having basic financial literacy knowledge.

The Legislature said the course would better prepare students for adulthood and help them achieve financial stability and independence.

The adoption of the bill would make Florida the sixth state in the nation to require a stand-alone course in personal financial literacy as a prerequisite to earn a diploma.

If approved, the bill would take effect July 1, 2019.