America is in a financial literacy crisis. According to the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center, U.S. adults correctly answer less than half of basic personal-finance questions. 

As a sophomore at Stuyvesant High School and a student reporter for Miseducation, I’ve seen firsthand how we’re set up to fail. New York City, the financial capital of the world, still doesn’t require a standalone personal-finance course for graduation. Students encounter only a single unit on it, tucked inside economics class, even though managing taxes, budgeting, and loans is essential to navigating today’s economy.

This episode explores the gap between those with access to money-management lessons and those left to learn on their own. You’ll hear from David Peng, one of my teachers at Stuy who created a personal-finance course and Ashley Leftwich of Rock The Street, Wall Street. They’ll explain why mandating a full-semester personal-finance requirement is the what we need. 

Ready to get involved? See the links below for easy ways to contact your local representatives and sign the petition to require a standalone financial-literacy course in New York State. Every student deserves to be confident in their financial future. Let’s make it happen in schools, right now.

With Noa Salas Adam.

Take action in three quick clicks — then share the episode with a friend:

1. Add your name to this statewide petition calling for a standalone financial-literacy requirement in NYC.
2. Find your representative so you know exactly who to email.
3. Use these writing tips to tell them why a full-semester personal-finance course matters.

This is a video-first episode. You can watch it now on Youtube.

Miseducation is a podcast of The Bell that equips New York City public high school students with the tools to report on inequities in the nation’s largest school system.