Patelco Credit Union's High School Financial Education Curriculum Gains Momentum

Local schools tap program offerings to meet next year's state curriculum requirements 

DUBLIN, Calif., Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More local high schools across the Bay Area are joining Patelco Credit Union's high school financial education pilot program looking to bring personalized financial literacy instruction into their classrooms. Educators are working directly with Patelco to tailor lessons and learning experiences to the specific needs of their students, while helping schools prepare for California's new personal finance education requirements.

The program launched in September at Castlemont High School in Oakland and Westmoor High School in Daly City, where teachers and administrators worked with Patelco to develop customized financial education experiences that complement existing classroom instruction. Unlike a one-size-fits-all curriculum, Patelco's Financial Wellness for Schools Initiative offers modular lessons, real-world exercises and interactive learning opportunities that can be adapted to each school's curriculum, student population and educational goals.

The initiative also helps participating schools get a head start on complying with Assembly Bill 2927, California's financial literacy legislation requiring high schools across the state to offer a standalone personal finance course beginning in the 2027-28 school year, with personal finance becoming a graduation requirement for the Class of 2031. Six local schools have reached out to adapt the program to their own curriculum since learning about the opportunity.

"This is a natural extension of Patelco's long-held mission to help members achieve financial wellbeing through financial literacy and empowerment," said Erin Mendez, President and CEO of Patelco. "Developing a sustainable curriculum enhancement model that schools can integrate into long-term implementation plans helps build financially resilient individuals, families, and communities."

Dayo Adebiyi, an instructor at Castlemont High School in Oakland, was motivated to incorporate Patelco's content into his Intro to Business class curriculum after attending a similar exercise for students at another local educational institution. "Above all my observations, what truly moved me was the engagement by the entire Patelco team with each of the young people. The conversations, examples, and scenarios were very real. All the young people I observed were intentionally engaged," he said. 

The Patelco Financial Wellness for Schools Initiative aligns with the state's California Personal Finance Curriculum Guide, issued to help schools comply with the new legislation. The guide emphasizes real-world simulations, family financial literacy events, guest speakers, internships, and workforce development opportunities as high-impact implementation strategies that strengthen financial literacy outcomes.

Patelco's program will reinforce instruction across key curriculum areas including banking, budgeting, employment and income, credit management, loans, insurance, taxes, investing, fraud prevention, behavioral finance, charitable giving, and college financing.

The initiative is an extension of Patelco's award-winning financial education program that has garnered national attention for building financial wellbeing. Over the past 20 months alone, the team has led 133 onsite workshops for students in partnership with 20 local high schools and community colleges across the Bay Area. Patelco tailored its established content according to the new curriculum requirement and the specific needs of each high school in developing its new pilot program. 

Patelco anticipates expanding the pilot program to additional local schools in the coming months. The team discussed the new initiative in the a recent episode of Small Talks for Big Change, Patelco's award-winning financial wellness podcast. For more information about Patelco's high school financial education curriculum offerings, send a message to [email protected].

About Patelco Credit Union
Patelco Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution serving more than 550,000 members nationwide with nearly $10 billion in assets. It provides personalized banking solutions, expert guidance, and financial education that strengthen members' financial wellbeing. Patelco is based in Dublin, CA, and has been honored with industry, consumer, business, and finance awards, including Newsweek's America's Best Regional Credit Unions, Forbes' Best-In-State Credit Union, and Bankrate's Top Credit Union for 2026. Visit patelco.org for more information.

Contact:
Bryan Lyons
[email protected]

SOURCE Patelco Credit Union