New Education Law Supported by Scholarships for Classrooms

By Tom Lang

A new Michigan state law (HB 5190) taking effect this year requiring mandatory personal finance education in high schools can be supported with ten $500 Cash for Classrooms teacher grants from the Community Choice Credit Union Foundation.

Applications are open to schools and teachers statewide through April 12 at: https://www.communitychoicecu.com/teacher-grant-application/. The application is simple and can be filled out in just minutes. Winners will be announced the week of April 22.

The Community Choice "teacher grants" can be used by K-12 educators for the purchase of supplies, software, or other tools to help promote financial education in their school or classroom.

Recipients of the teacher grants will also be invited to attend the Community Choice Foundation Scholarship Award Ceremony on Thursday, May 9, at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth. There, 25 students will be awarded scholarships totaling $100,000 to help pay for college, trade school or continuing education courses.

More on HB 5190:

Signed by Gov. Whitmer in June of 2022:

The legislation would add a half-credit personal finance course as a high school graduation requirement, starting with 9th-graders in 2024. The course requirement could fulfill a half credit of the four-credit mathematics requirement, the two-credit language other than English requirement, or the one-credit visual, performing, or applied arts requirement. The course could also be completed as part of an approved career and technical education program.

HB 5190 was sponsored by Rep. Farrington (R–Utica)