Mississippi middle schoolers to learn financial literacy under new state law beginning in 2027

Mississippi middle school students will soon be required to learn budgeting, saving, and other financial skills under a new state law.

Allyson Cole with the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center explains how schools are preparing for the new requirements.

Financial literacy is already part of the learning experience for many students in the Canton Public School District.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Candra Nelson-Scott says community partners regularly visit classrooms to teach practical money management skills. “They talk about banking, savings accounts, investment accounts, budgeting, as well as informing about loans, interest rates, and principles… they’re taking what they’re learning and putting it into practice.”

Those lessons will soon become a requirement across Mississippi.

Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, Senate Bill 2294, also known as the Mississippi Math Act, will require public schools to provide financial literacy instruction for students in grades 6 through 8.

Districts will have flexibility in deciding whether to teach the material as a standalone course or incorporate it into an existing class.

As schools prepare, the Mississippi Department of Education is also preparing teachers.

“For the high schools, the teachers are going to have to earn an endorsement. For middle school, there’s no technical endorsement yet.” Heather Morrison says high school teachers will need a personal finance endorsement, while middle school endorsement requirements are still being developed.

She says students entering seventh grade this school year, the graduating Class of 2032, will be the first required to earn a personal finance credit before graduating from high school. “Kids who take CCR meet that personal finance requirement. If they don’t take that class, then they have to take the personal finance class.”

Nelson-Scott says introducing financial literacy earlier will give students practical skills they can use long after they leave the classroom. “I’m speaking from personal experience. I can’t remember having that conversation. Giving students this information early gives them an early start.”

Financial literacy instruction is scheduled to begin in Mississippi middle schools during the 2027-28 school year as districts implement the new statewide requirements.