Sponsor in Focus: Maryland Society of Accountants and Tax Professionals

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is considering a significant update to Maryland’s Financial Literacy Standards for grades K–12, marking the first major revision to the standards since they were originally adopted in 2011.

Beginning August 11, 2026, through October 16, 2026, educators, families, financial professionals, community partners, and other interested Marylanders are invited to review the proposed standards and provide feedback. Public input gathered during this comment period will help inform the final version of the standards before they are presented to the Maryland State Board of Education for consideration, approval, and adoption.

Review the proposed standards and provide feedback here.

Educational standards establish what students should know and be able to do at different grade levels. In Maryland, these standards provide a framework that guides local school systems as they develop curriculum, select instructional resources, and determine how concepts are taught in classrooms. Updating the Financial Literacy Standards is therefore an important step in ensuring Maryland students are prepared to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives.

The proposed revisions represent a meaningful expansion of Maryland’s financial education framework. For the first time, the standards include financial literacy content for students in kindergarten and first grade, providing opportunities to introduce age-appropriate financial concepts beginning in the earliest years of school.

The revisions also recognize how dramatically the financial landscape has changed since 2011. The ways people earn, spend, save, borrow, invest, transfer money, and protect their financial information continue to evolve. Updated standards provide an opportunity to ensure classroom instruction reflects developments in financial systems, technology, consumer behavior, and the financial habits and realities of modern life.

The Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE) encourages educators, families, financial professionals, and community members with an interest in preparing Maryland students for their financial futures to review the proposed standards and participate in the public comment process.

The public comment period is open August 11 through October 16, 2026.