Montana BPE Adds Civics, Financial Literacy to HS Graduation Requirements

HELENA – The Montana Board of Public Education has added instruction in financial literacy or economics, and civics or government to its list of graduation requirements for Montana High School students. Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen says the new rule will be effective July 1st.

In a statement announcing the change, Arntzen wrote: “I know that we can all agree that our students will be better prepared for their future with a greater understanding of American and Montana government as well as financial responsibility."

The Class of 2026 will be the first required to meet the new standards. The half-unit of civics or government will be included in the 2 units of social studies currently required, and the half-unit of financial/economics education can fall under within the two units of social studies, or two units of mathematics required to graduate.