JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida’s new high school financial literacy graduation requirement is rolling into classrooms statewide, but Jacksonville education and civic leaders say the real challenge is making sure it changes behavior—not just transcripts.
On “This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition,” Dr. Ronetta Wards of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) said “financial literacy” should feel personal and practical for teenagers who are just months away from adult decisions.
“I would say it means, how do I think about money from a personal standpoint? How does money impact my life?”
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Wards said that includes real-world topics students will quickly face: credit, debt, taxes—and even retirement.
“So when we think about financial literacy from a personal perspective, we’re talking about credit… We’re talking about debt. We’re talking about taxes… We’re also thinking about retirement.”
Justice pressed the point: Do high school students really need to know about retirement?
“Yes, they need to. They need to know that what they do in their 20s could really impact them 20 years down the line.”
The conversation highlighted JPEF’s recent review of Florida’s new requirement and what could limit its impact—especially if instruction becomes a box-checking exercise. Wards said the course has to go beyond worksheets and definitions, with students practicing real decisions and seeing consequences.
“It has to be more than just checking the box.”
Howard Dale, representing the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, said juniors and seniors are at a key crossroads because the next steps—college, trade school, the military, apprenticeships—come with costs that can follow students for years.
“We believe in Rotary that students… are at a key point in their lives.”
Dale said too often, teenagers accept a plan without understanding long-term debt, including student loans.
“They have to make a career choice, and then how do I pay for it?”
“We all know that federal student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.”
Dale also emphasized basics that apply to every path.
“Live within your means.”
“Certainly, budgeting is key. Everything you do is budgeting.”
Rotary recently hosted its second annual Financial Literacy Summit for Duval County high school juniors and seniors, bringing in speakers focused on career planning and post-high-school options.
“It was full of energy. It was amazing.”
But both guests said the success of the new requirement will depend on what happens across the community—especially for students in lower-income schools that may not be able to afford the same supplemental tools.
“We have to make sure that all students, regardless of their zip code, have access to the resources and the tools.”
Dale argued the state should also standardize how outcomes are measured so districts can compare results fairly.
“One way we make it more effective is to have a standardized statewide assessment of the course.”
In the end, both guests said improving financial literacy is bigger than a single class—it takes a citywide effort.