HB439 Summary

• Local boards of education may offer life skills instruction beginning in the 2021-2022 school year as an elective course or as a component within health education and physical education courses for grades 6-12.

• Life skills curriculum must include personal finance literacy topics such as savings, investments, wealth building, credit and debt, consumer awareness, financial responsibility, insurance, and real estate transactions.

• Personal rights instruction covers state election laws, voter registration, the election process, absentee ballots, party structures, and study of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.

• Good citizenship instruction includes honesty, respecting authority and property, personal responsibility, interaction with law enforcement and court officials, traffic stop procedures, and prevention of gang and youth violence.

• The State Board of Education must adopt rules and policies for implementation, including requirements that elective life skills courses meet the same academic rigor and curriculum standards as other approved elective courses.