Youth Financial Learning Act

The Youth Financial Learning Act authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) to integrate financial literacy education into public elementary and secondary schools. SEAs must submit applications detailing how they will distribute subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs), ensure sustainability, consult stakeholders, and achieve geographic diversity. Up to 10 percent of grant funds can be used by SEAs for state-level activities such as technical assistance, curriculum development, guidance, and program evaluation. The remaining grant funds are used by SEAs to award subgrants to LEAs, prioritizing those serving high numbers of high-need schools, demonstrating the greatest need, and committed to improving financial literacy in low-performing schools. LEAs will use these funds to implement, expand, or sustain school-based financial literacy activities and curriculum, enhancing student understanding of consumer, economic, entrepreneurship, and personal finance concepts , including personal credit, student loans, and financial aid. Funds also support partnerships with community-based organizations for innovative activities and promote professional development for educators. States are required to provide a 25 percent non-Federal matching contribution, ensuring these funds supplement, not supplant, existing resources.