ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
schools; economics; personal financial management
Purpose
Codifies a one-half course credit in economics for high school graduation, currently prescribed in rule by the Arizona State Board of Education (SBE).
Background
SBE prescribes a minimum course of study and competency requirements for Arizona students to graduate from high school. Current SBE rules require a minimum of 22 credits for high school graduation which includes 3 credits in social studies, incorporating: 1) 1 credit of American history, including Arizona history; 2) 1 credit of world history or geography; 3) 0.5 credit of American government, including civics and Arizona government; and 4) 0.5 credit in economics (A.A.C. R7-2-302).
The Arizona History and Social Sciences Standards, approved by SBE, outlines course considerations for a high school economics class. This includes content from: 1) financial literacy or personal finance; 2) economic reasoning; 3) economic systems; 4) exchange and markets; 5) the national economy; and 6) the global economy. Content from financial literacy and personal finance includes budgeting, saving, spending, investment, credit, banking and insurance.
Currently, SBE can establish a required separate personal finance course for high school graduation (A.R.S. § 15-701.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Directs SBE to require at least a one-half course credit in economics for high school graduation, which includes:
a) financial literacy; and
b) personal financial management.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 1, 2019
JO/gs