Signed by Governor Tina Kotek

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires a half credit on higher education and career path skills and a half credit on finance education to earn a high school diploma

Highlights:

• Requires one half-credit of higher education and career path skills and one half-credit of personal financial education to be completed in order to receive a high school diploma (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt by rule requirements for courses, including teachers of courses, related to higher education and career path skills and personal finance education that allows the courses to meet multiple credit requirements for a high school diploma (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this Act becomes operative on January 1, 2027 and applies to diplomas awarded on or after January 1, 2027 (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes a school district or education service district to request a waiver of the credit requirements if the district is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department of Education, based on rules adopted by the State Board of Education, that the district is unable to provide courses necessary for students to satisfy the credit requirements due to a lack of qualified educators (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the waiver is only valid for one school year (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes the State Board of Education, the Department of Education, and school districts to take any necessary actions before the operative date in order to ensure that students who are required to meet the requirements are able to satisfy the requirements or to request a waiver for students receiving diplomas between January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2028 (Sec. 2).

• Defines higher education and career path skills to mean instruction that provides guidance on job applications, applications to post-secondary learning, developing career-related skills, and seeking assistance to community resources (Sec. 3).

• Defines personal finance education to mean instruction that provides guidance on credit scores, investments and bank accounts, creating a budget, taxes, and building financial well-being (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text