SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent Tony Thurmond will receive the Personal Finance Education Champion award from Next Gen Personal Finance for his advocacy to guarantee personal finance education for all California high school students.
Superintendent Thurmond co-sponsored Assembly Bill (AB) 2927 (McCarty), which became law in 2024 and made California the 26th state in the nation to require personal finance as a high school graduation requirement.
The passage of AB 2927 marked the culmination of a two-year effort by Superintendent Thurmond to bring personal finance education to all students across California. Research shows that students who take a personal finance course have better financial outcomes in adulthood, including lower credit card debt, higher credit scores, and lower payment delinquency rates.
By the 2027–28 school year, all California high schools, including charter schools, must offer a standalone one-semester course in personal finance, as detailed in this May 8, 2026, news release from the California Department of Education (CDE). Completion of the course will become a statewide graduation requirement beginning with the graduating class of 2030–31.
WHO:
- Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Kevin McCarty, Mayor of Sacramento
- Tim Ranzetta, Co-Founder of Next Gen Personal Finance
WHEN:
Tuesday, September 22, from noon to 12:45 p.m.
Award presentation at approximately 12:15 p.m.
WHERE:
Capitol Event Center
VISUALS:
- Superintendent Thurmond receiving recognition for his support of personal finance education at the Next Gen Personal Finance Award Program
- Superintendent Thurmond delivering remarks
- Elected officials, community advocates, teachers, and students