OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Financial literacy could soon be a requirement for students to graduate high school in Washington.

A Senate Committee passed HB 1915 on Wednesday that would make financial education instruction a required part of public education. Each student would have to take at least a half-credit of their school’s financial courses.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Skyler Rude of Walla Walla, who says this would be a way to ensure students are taking the classes that schools already offer.

“This is the next step to further financial education in our K-12 system,” Rep. Rude said. “Schools currently are required to offer financial education, but students are not required to take it.”

The bill would also require school districts to offer financial education courses to all students in elementary and middle school grades.

It now heads to a Senate Rules Commitee for a second reading. If passed, the state’s high school class of 2031 would be the first to graduate under the new requirements.