The Knowledge Gap We Can't Afford to Ignore

The Deficit Is Real — and It Starts Young

The numbers are hard to ignore. According to the National Financial Educators Council, financial illiteracy cost Americans an estimated $1,506 per person in 2023 alone — a staggering collective toll. Among young people, the picture is especially concerning. The Council for Economic Education's 2024 Survey of the States found that only 25 states require high school students to take a personal finance course before graduating. That means more than half the country is sending young adults into the world without a single required lesson in how to manage money.

For students in 5th through 12th grade — and even into college — foundational financial concepts like budgeting, saving, debt management, and smart borrowing remain largely untaught in any formal way. The result? Young adults are making consequential financial decisions — student loans, first credit cards, entry-level salary negotiations — with little to no preparation.

A 2023 survey by Ramsey Solutions found that only 34% of teens said they felt "very prepared" to manage their own money after high school. Meanwhile, student loan debt in the United States has surpassed $1.7 trillion, and the average American carries over $6,000 in credit card debt. The pipeline from financial ignorance to financial hardship is depressingly direct.

This isn't just a personal problem — it's a community problem. When young people lack the skills to build financial stability, entire neighborhoods, economies, and futures are affected. The cost of inaction is simply too high.

States Are Starting to Listen

The good news? Policymakers are paying attention.

A growing wave of state legislatures across the country has begun requiring personal finance education as a graduation requirement, recognizing that financial literacy is not a luxury elective — it's a life skill as essential as reading and math. States like Florida, Wisconsin, and Missouri have passed or expanded standalone personal finance mandates in recent years, signaling a national shift in how we think about preparing young people for adulthood.

And Indiana is among them.

Indiana Steps Up: The Class of 2028 Mandate

Indiana has taken a meaningful and historic step toward closing the financial literacy gap. Under new state requirements, students in Indiana's Class of 2028 will be required to complete a personal finance course before graduation. This mandate represents a significant commitment by Indiana legislators and educators to ensure that every Hoosier student leaves high school with a working knowledge of how to manage money, build credit, and plan for the future.

It's a bold move — and a right one. But a mandate without a solution is just a requirement on paper. The real question facing districts, superintendents, and classroom teachers across the state is: How do we actually deliver high-quality financial literacy instruction at scale?

That's where Junior Achievement comes in.

Junior Achievement's Financial Literacy for Indiana: A Ready-Made Solution

Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana is proud to offer a proven, turnkey answer to Indiana's financial literacy challenge through the JA Financial Literacy for Indiana program.

Designed specifically for Indiana students and aligned with state standards, JA Financial Literacy for Indiana delivers hands-on, engaging financial education that prepares young people to make smart decisions about money — not just for a test, but for life. At a cost of just $5 per student, the program gives school districts an extraordinarily accessible path to meeting the Class of 2028 graduation requirement without straining already-tight budgets.

Here's what sets JA Financial Literacy for Indiana apart:

It's curriculum-ready. JA Financial Literacy for Indiana provides structured, classroom-tested content that educators can implement confidently — no need to build financial literacy programming from scratch. The curriculum covers essential topics including budgeting, saving and investing, understanding credit, and the basics of financial planning.

It's Indiana-focused. JA Financial Literacy for Indiana isn't a generic, off-the-shelf program. It's been developed and refined with Indiana students and Indiana educators in mind, giving it immediate relevance to the lives and communities of Hoosier kids.

It's backed by a trusted brand. Junior Achievement has been preparing young people for economic success for more than 100 years. In northern Indiana alone, JA reaches thousands of students each year through partnerships with schools, businesses, and community leaders. When you bring JA Financial Literacy for Indiana into your district, you're bringing that legacy of credibility with it.

It's built for real classrooms. JA Financial Literacy for Indiana supports teachers — many of whom may not have a background in personal finance instruction — with materials, training resources, and support that make delivery manageable and effective.

For Educators and Administrators: This Is Your On-Ramp

Superintendents and curriculum directors across Indiana are right now grappling with the same question: how do we build a financially literate graduation pathway before 2028 without overhauling everything we're already doing?

JA Financial Literacy for Indiana offers a clear on-ramp. At $5 per student, it is one of the most cost-effective, standards-aligned financial literacy solutions available in the state. More than that, the program is more than compliance. It's an investment in outcomes. Students who engage with quality financial education are more likely to save, less likely to accumulate harmful debt, and better equipped to make the decisions that lead to long-term economic stability. That's not just good for individual students — it's good for northern Indiana's workforce, communities, and future.

The Time to Act Is Now

The Class of 2028 mandate gives Indiana schools a runway — but it's a finite one. Building effective financial literacy programming takes planning, partner alignment, and curriculum review. Districts that begin that work now will be far better positioned than those that wait until the urgency is unavoidable.

Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana is ready to be your partner in this work. We're already in schools across the region. We understand the challenges educators face. And we're committed to ensuring that every student in northern Indiana — regardless of zip code or background — has the financial knowledge they need to build a stable, self-determined future.

Because a generation that understands money is a generation that can change the world.

Interested in bringing JA Financial Literacy for Indiana to your district? Contact Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana to learn how we can help your school meet the Class of 2028 mandate — and give your students a financial foundation that lasts a lifetime.