A bill that would allow personal economics or financial literacy courses to count toward the half-credit economics graduation requirement passed in the Michigan House of Representatives on May 5 in a unanimous vote.

House Bill 4390 was first proposed by Rep. James Tedder (R-Clarkston), a former educator who took office in January.

The bill proposes to amend the “Revised School Code” to include, “The 1/2-credit economics requirement may be satisfied by completion of at least a 1/2-credit course in personal economics that includes a financial literacy component as described in section 1165.”

A personal economics class would teach students how to manage their money, which could help them immediately in their lives.

Students could be taught how to plan and budget for life events, like a wedding or buying a car, for example.

Several students support this change.

Junior Julie Lemon said that she would have most likely taken advantage of the opportunity if it would have been available prior to her junior year.

“I feel like that would be a really good idea,” Lemon said.

Junior Noah Galliway said this class would give students a head start in life after high school.

When asked if he would have taken advantage of this opportunity, Galliway said, “For sure.”

“Anybody who wants to go into business or accounting would surely benefit as well,” Galliway said.

Mr. Michael Whalen, economics teacher, said this is a good idea as well.

“This class would still be aligned to the Michigan content standards, but it gives students an alternative to a more theory-based economics class,” Whalen said.