Students push for financial literacy
Proposal would create graduation requirement for NJ high schoolers
By: Amanda Oglesby
Asbury Park Press
USA Today Network - New Jersey
TINTON FALLS - three Monmouth county students hope a new bill in Trenton will help their classmates establish stronger financial futures.
.....
For three Ranney School students - high school juniors Ansh Patel, Noah Beretz and Avi Rao - learning about money is just part of their school day. they are members of the college preparatory school's Finance Club and learn about stock markets and investing in the school's Cantin Family Finance Lab, where a stock ticker runs along the ceiling and market data is displayed across computers and wall monitors.
..... But Baretz, Patel and Rao know that other New Jersey students are not so lucky.
..... The three have started a campaign that would require basic financial education to be a part of high school graduation requirements. They are pushing New Jersey's elected officials to make classes on investing, saving and budgeting part of the high school experience.
..... On March 2, [2026] the 17-yer-olds testified before the New Jersey Senate Education Committee in support of bill S-3462. The measure - sponsored by Monmouth County state Senator Vin Gopal, Hudson County state Senator
Angela V. McKnight and six other legislators - would require New Jersey high schoolers have one semester or trimester of education in behavioral finance, accounting, banking, taxes, consumer skills and college financial planning.
..... Without this basic education, "when you get into real life, college and you're getting a job, you're not going to have the financial literacy knowledge to support yourself, to save, to invest properly," said Rao, of Tintin Falls.
..... The three young man said they saw the problem firsthand when they provided basic budgeting classes to children in the Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth county.
..... There, they taught younger students the elements of saving and differentiating wants from needs through games and candy-based lessons.
..... "When we were teaching the Boys & Girls club, we realized most of these people didn't understand bass (financial literacy) topics," said Patel, of Freehold Township. "It's something that can be fixed, and it (financial education) has been implemented in other states.
.....
"New Jersey's one of 15 (stats) that don't have financial literacy requirements," he said.
..... New Jersey has some high school financial literacy education, but it focuses on economics, business and entrepreneurship. The new bill, if passed would be an additional requirement.
.....
The new bill is needed because a lack of financial knowledge and planning affects all income levels of students, said Baretz of Atlantic Highlands. It can be a problem even among his peers, he said.
..... "We're surrounded by wealth (at Ranney School). I'm not afraid to say that," Baretz said. "I think people spend money and people use money very inappropriately, from what I've found. and I think this (bill) is a beautiful opportunity to teach that (financial skill set)."
..... Head of School John Griffith said the initiative has proven to be a good learning experience for the three students.
..... In addition to the financial lessons, "what the boys did also crosses over into ... political science and government," he said.
..... Bartz, Rao and Patel are "really engaged kids, very civilly minded, and I'm really proud of them," Griffith said.
..... Next, bill S-3462 will be heard before the Senate budget and Appropriations committee, at a date to be determined.
..... The Ranny students said they know their push for its passage is not yet over.
.....
"We're ready to go ... and make it happen, Rao said.
..... Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 18 years.