Every Georgia high school senior will receive personal finance resource ahead of graduation

As Georgia students prepare to graduate and take their next steps, the Georgia Department of Education is working to make sure they have a better handle on something many adults wish they had learned earlier: how to manage their money.

This spring, all graduating seniors statewide – more than 124,000 students – will receive a copy of The Talk (About Money): A Young Adult’s Guide to the One Decision That Changes Everything by Dale Alexander, a Georgia native and Certified Financial Planner. Books will be distributed to high schools across the state for students in the class of 2026.

The effort is supported through a private donation from The Alexander Family Charitable Fund, and no taxpayer funds are used.

“For many students, graduation is the first time they’ll be earning a steady paycheck, paying their own bills, or making decisions about loans and credit. Those are big, real-world choices, and they come quickly,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “We want to ensure Georgia students aren’t learning about personal finance through trial and error. That’s why we expanded the personal finance content in Georgia’s required economics course, and why we’re so proud to partner with Dale Alexander to provide this resource to graduating students. This book will provide a practical touchstone for students as they begin earning, spending, and making financial decisions. We want to help them avoid some of the hard lessons and step more confidently into adulthood.”

Each book includes a letter from Superintendent Woods encouraging students to review the material and apply what they learn as they enter the next phase of their lives.

“Getting money right is not hard,” Alexander said. “There’s just a lot trying to make it impossible. Your first, real job paycheck is the most powerful money you’ll ever hold – because what you do with it sets the pattern for everything that follows. Most adults would give anything to go back and start over financially when they were these students’ age. This program makes sure young adults never have that regret. I am grateful to the State of Georgia for believing in financial literacy and doing something about it.”

This initiative is aligned to Georgia’s Student Bill of Rights, which focuses on students’ right to be prepared for life – to read and communicate effectively, to master and apply math, to solve real-world problems, and to make informed financial decisions.

In 2021, Georgia updated its high school economics course to significantly expand the amount of personal finance instruction every Georgia student receives.

During the revised course, which is required for all Georgia high school students, students learn about managing and balancing budgets; understanding and building credit; protecting against identity theft and consumer protections; and understanding tax forms, student loan applications, and pay stubs. Students also receive a foundation in the fundamentals of economic decision-making, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics, with a specific focus on how they can apply that knowledge to their own personal finances.