High Schools Introduce Newly Created Advanced Placement Business and Personal Finance Course

A newly created Advanced Placement course combining business and personal finance is being offered for the first time at more than 1,500 high schools across the United States. Reports indicate that students enrolled in classes such as the one at Hoover High School near Birmingham, Alabama, are discussing personal investments, management principles, and external market factors.

Course Overview and Structure

• Academic Level: Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses that can allow students to earn college credit through examinations.
• Core Curriculum: Students learn management, personal finance, and the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors impacting businesses.
• Broader Trends: According to the Council for Economic Education, 39 states currently require a personal finance class for high school graduation, reflecting an increase of four states compared to two years prior.

Context and Perspectives

David Coleman, CEO of the College Board—the organization that develops AP courses and manages the SAT—stated that the course was created because student surveys indicated a desire to turn ideas into jobs. Coleman described business as a new part of the liberal arts, emphasizing a blend of practical and theoretical learning.

Researchers and educators have noted growing interest in financial education. A past Federal Reserve paper suggested that families in states requiring financial education made certain financial decisions, such as paying down credit card balances using stimulus funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jennifer Steele, an education professor at American University, noted that educating youth on responsible money management yields positive outcomes.

Practical Implications and Verification

• Verification: To check whether an individual high school offers the AP Business with Personal Finance course, students and parents can consult school course catalogs or contact guidance counselors directly.
• Curriculum Availability: Course offerings vary by school district and state implementation plans.