On Oct. 1, 2026, the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) released the National Report Card on State Efforts to Improve Financial Literacy in High Schools™, providing a comprehensive assessment of how states are preparing students with essential personal finance knowledge. To mark the release, NEFE President and CEO Billy Hensley, Ph.D., conducted a nationwide satellite media tour (SMT) discussing state grades, the growing momentum behind personal finance education requirements and strategies for meeting increasing demand for financial literacy instruction in high schools.
The report card highlights both progress and opportunities across the country. While some states have implemented strong frameworks and earned a top grade, others are still developing statewide strategies to ensure students receive consistent financial education before graduation.
“The National Report Card provides states with a benchmark for how they are equipping students with this important foundation of learning compared to other states across the country,” Hensley says. “Conversations with media outlets from both high-performing states and those still building their approach revealed the challenges and opportunities that exist in expanding access to personal finance education. Ultimately, these efforts can help students build confidence and support stronger financial well-being throughout their lives.
Below is a selection of interviews and media coverage from Hensley’s national media tour discussing the report’s findings and the future of financial literacy education in high schools nationwide.
- KIRO Newsradio Seattle
- WSB-AM Atlanta
- KVUE-TV ABC Austin
- KDKA-AM Pittsburgh
- WUSA-TV ABC Washington, D.C.
- Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
- WPHM-AM Detroit
- Florida Daily
- WERC-FM Birmingham, Ala.
Learn more about the National Report Card on State Efforts to Improve Financial Literacy in High Schools and see if your state is making the grade.
Visit our Making the Case for Financial Education page to explore how you can support NEFE’s mission and become an advocate in your own community.
