Kentucky bill requiring financial literacy classes signed into law

House Bill 342 aims to make financial literacy a required course for incoming high school freshmen.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday.

However, students at Jeffersontown High School were already experiencing the advantages of financial literacy education.

For the past three years, teacher Clay Moody has led financial literacy classes, equipping students with knowledge about managing money.

“These students learn a lot of things in high school — math, English, science — but historically, they haven’t learned a lot about money,” Moody said.

Topics range from understanding credit versus debit cards to managing insurance. Moody said that the class prepares students for real-life financial decisions.

“It is personal finance. I give them a lot of information, but at the end of the day, they have to decide how to handle their finances. It’s not always a perfect right or wrong answer,” Moody said.

Students are implementing what they learn, even beginning to invest.

“I found out I was eligible for a CD, which is a certificate of deposit, where I can invest money and let it grow over time,” said Ava Meuschke, a senior at Jeffersontown High School.

Another student, Leedrick Washington, used what he learned to invest in the stock market.

“I put, like, $10 into McDonald’s. That was my first stock. I wanted to see it grow over time,” Washington said.

These lessons extend beyond the classroom, with many of the students taking what they have learned, back home.

“I was able to teach [my parents] how to invest in stocks and manage money. This is helping everyone in our community,” Meuschke said.