As Ohio Expands Financial-Literacy Requirements, New AP Course Offers Schools Another Pathway

AKRON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Ohio schools implement the state’s financial-literacy graduation requirement, educators and school districts are exploring approaches that connect financial education with students’ broader academic, career and postsecondary goals.

One option emerging for the 2026-27 school year is AP Business with Personal Finance, a new College Board course that combines business education and personal finance. The course provides students with an opportunity to engage in college-level coursework and, depending on their AP exam results and the policies of the college or university they attend, potentially earn college credit. The course also includes personal finance content aligned with Ohio’s financial-literacy requirements.

The H.K. Barker Center for Economic Education at The University of Akron is highlighting AP Business with Personal Finance as one potential pathway for Ohio schools as they implement the state’s financial-literacy graduation requirement. The College Board anticipates that 26 Ohio school districts will offer the course during the 2026-27 school year, with participation expected to grow in future years.

Under Ohio law, students entering ninth grade are required to earn one-half unit of financial literacy as part of their graduation requirements. A one-half unit represents at least 60 hours of instruction. Students may use financial-literacy credit in place of one-half unit of an elective or, subject to state requirements, one-half unit of approved mathematics. The requirement was established through legislation enacted in 2021 and specifies that instruction must align with the state’s academic content standards for financial literacy and entrepreneurship, which were updated by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in July 2025.

AP Business with Personal Finance is a yearlong introductory college-level course covering business management, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, accounting and personal finance content. According to the College Board, the course uses real-world business applications, case studies and project-based learning and incorporates the National Standards for Personal Financial Education developed by the Council for Economic Education and the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.

The course includes two major projects. In the Business Canvas Project, students undertake activities associated with developing a business, including product development, customer research, marketing and preparation of financial documents. The course also culminates in a Financial Advisor Project, in which students develop financial recommendations for a fictional household based on its financial profile and goals.

For Ohio schools, the course provides another option to consider when designing schedules and course offerings that address financial-literacy requirements. Districts remain responsible for determining how courses are scheduled, coded and applied toward local graduation requirements, as well as ensuring educators meet applicable state licensure requirements.

“AP Business with Personal Finance provides schools with an opportunity to connect multiple areas of learning in one rigorous course while giving students the chance to earn college-level recognition and meet important financial literacy expectations,” said Autum Barry, senior director of K-12 partnerships at the College Board in Ohio. “The course is designed to make business and personal finance meaningful and accessible to students while giving educators the resources they need to bring those concepts to life in the classroom.”

Business and Financial Education in the Classroom

The course brings together concepts that students may encounter in both academic and professional settings. Through case studies and projects, students analyze information, solve problems and consider financial and business decisions.

“For many students, business and personal finance are immediately relevant to the decisions they’re making about work, college, spending, saving and investing,” Barry said. “Because students can easily connect the content to their own lives, AP Business with Personal Finance has tremendous potential to attract students who may not have considered enrolling in AP and postsecondary courses.”

The College Board provides implementation resources for educators, including curriculum materials, sample syllabi, professional learning opportunities and other instructional support.

Ohio educators are also developing their own approaches to implementing the new course.

Stephanie Sutton, a business teacher at Hudson High School, is among the first cohort of state educators teaching AP Business with Personal Finance during its rollout.

“The course is very practical and provides opportunities for learners to work through case studies with real-world businesses and financials,” Sutton said. “Because the course is so new, teachers in Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Aurora, Hudson and surrounding districts have also been working together to create and share resources to fill any gaps as we roll it out for the first time.”

That collaboration reflects the early implementation stage of a new course, as educators develop classroom materials, share instructional strategies and respond to the needs of their students.

Business Leaders Highlight the Role of Financial Literacy in Ohio’s Workforce and Economy

Ohio business leaders have identified financial and economic education as one component of preparing students for the workplace and for the financial decisions they will encounter as adults.

Justin Barnes, vice president of government affairs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said financial literacy is connected to broader questions of economic policy and workforce development.

“We need Ohioans who understand how government policies affect their everyday lives and economic futures, from the taxes withheld from their paychecks that impact their take-home pay to the role those same tax dollars play in building roads, bridges and infrastructure that support economic growth and development,” Barnes said.

Barnes also pointed to the potential role of AP Business with Personal Finance in connecting classroom learning to workforce preparation. “This real-world course brings to life important financial fundamentals and helps grow our state’s talent pool to keep it economically competitive,” he said.

“Educators have an opportunity to help students become thoughtful consumers, informed investors, innovative entrepreneurs and responsible economic decision-makers,” said Dr. Brad Maguth, director of the H.K. Barker Center for Economic Education. “AP Business with Personal Finance provides one way to connect those areas of learning with the academic and career opportunities students are preparing to pursue.”

AP Business with Personal Finance is one of several course options available to Ohio schools in addressing the state’s financial-literacy graduation requirement. AP courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics have been designated as fulfilling the state’s high school financial literacy mandate, under Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.603.

Educators interested in learning more about AP Business with Personal Finance, including resources for first-time AP teachers, can visit the College Board’s AP Central website.

About the H.K. Barker Center for Economic Education

The H.K. Barker Center for Economic Education at The University of Akron promotes economic, financial and entrepreneurship education through professional development, curriculum resources and partnerships that support educators in teaching economic and financial decision-making. Serving educators throughout Ohio and beyond, the Center works to expand access to high-quality economic and financial education and classroom resources.

About The University of Akron

The University of Akron is a public research university known for career-focused education, nationally and globally recognized programs, and deep connections to industry and Northeast Ohio. Founded in 1870 as Buchtel College, UA today serves more than 15,000 students through five degree-granting colleges and schools. The university is a leader in fields including nursing, engineering, biology and business, and is ranked No. 1 in the world for the application of polymer science and plastics engineering. UA is one of Ohio’s 14 public universities. For more information, visit uakron.edu.