Rehmann and Jump$tart Tackle Michigan's New Financial Literacy Mandate

TROY, Mich. – April 14, 2026 – As Michigan prepares to implement a landmark financial literacy requirement for all high school students, a new partnership between advisory firm Rehmann and the Michigan Jump$tart Coalition aims to equip educators with the critical tools needed for success. Announced during National Financial Literacy Month, the collaboration directly addresses the urgent need to bolster financial education across the state.

The initiative will provide professional development opportunities for teachers, empowering them to effectively deliver a new, state-mandated personal finance curriculum. This alliance highlights a proactive, private-public approach to tackling a pervasive issue, as national statistics reveal that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and only 24% of millennials demonstrate basic financial literacy.

"Supporting education and our communities are pillars of our firm,” said Scott Bonacorsi, Chief People Officer of Rehmann, in a statement. “Our partnership with the Michigan Jump$tart Coalition further extends that commitment and equips educators with vital resources to enrich their students’ lives.”

The Educational Imperative: A New Mandate for Michigan Schools

The partnership arrives at a pivotal moment for Michigan's education system. In June 2022, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 5190 into law, making Michigan the first state in the Great Lakes region to require a personal finance course for high school graduation. This new rule will first apply to the graduating Class of 2028, who entered ninth grade in the fall of 2024.

The legislation mandates a half-credit course designed to provide students with foundational knowledge for navigating their financial futures. The curriculum is competency-based and covers seven critical areas: earning income, budgeting and saving, using credit, financial investing, paying taxes, buying goods and services, and protecting assets through insurance. Students will explore topics ranging from analyzing career benefits and understanding tax forms to evaluating student loans and the risks of investing.

While the mandate marks a significant step forward, it also places new demands on educators and school districts to develop and implement a robust curriculum. The success of this statewide initiative hinges on the ability of teachers to confidently and effectively teach these complex subjects, a challenge this new partnership seeks to address directly.

A Strategic Alliance to Bridge the Gap

To support educators in this transition, Rehmann, a professional advisory firm with an 85-year history, is collaborating with the Michigan Jump$tart Coalition, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to youth financial literacy since 2000. The firm's involvement is an extension of its established corporate social responsibility efforts, channeled through The Rehmann Foundation, which focuses on advancing education and economic development.

As part of the collaboration, Rehmann will sponsor the travel and attendance costs for two Michigan teachers to attend the Jump$tart National Educators Conference (NEC), a premier professional development event held this year from November 6-8 in Aurora, Colorado.

“Our mission is to provide Michigan’s youth with the tools they need for financial independence, and that starts with empowering our educators,” stated Joe Koss, Michigan Jump$tart Coalition Board Chair. “Partnering with Rehmann allows us to invest in our teachers, ensuring that the next generation of Michiganders is equipped to navigate the complexities of the economy with confidence.”

The application for the sponsorship is open to Michigan teachers until August 14th, requiring a short explanation of how attending the conference would benefit their classroom and students.

Investing in Educators for a Multiplier Effect

The decision to sponsor attendance at the National Educators Conference is a strategic investment with a proven return. The NEC is widely regarded as a vital resource for pre-K-12 educators specializing in personal finance. In 2025, the conference drew 350 teachers from 47 states, creating a powerful network of professionals dedicated to a common goal.

The impact extends far beyond the conference halls. Data shows that teachers who attend the NEC share the resources and strategies they learn with an average of 14.5 other educators, creating a significant multiplier effect that broadens the reach of the training.

More importantly, this type of professional development translates directly to improved student outcomes. A landmark study on Jump$tart's teacher training found that high school students whose teachers attended the program demonstrated a threefold increase in financial knowledge gains compared to students taught by the same teachers before the training. Following their teacher's participation, student knowledge scores jumped by an average of 24% over the course of a semester.

Amy Broekhuizen, a teacher and past conference attendee, described it as an invaluable experience. “This is the conference that I look forward to the most each and every year," she said. "To be surrounded by professionals who all have a common goal of educating our youth about personal finance and who share the same passion is truly an honor and an amazing experience. Every year I learn something new that I can immediately bring back to my classroom to share with my students.”

Confronting Michigan's Financial Reality

The urgency of this initiative is underscored by sobering statistics about the state of financial well-being in Michigan. A 2025 statewide survey by the Michigan Department of Treasury revealed a staggering gap in financial education: four out of five Michigander households have never received any formal training in household finance.

This lack of education manifests in widespread financial precarity. In Michigan, 52% of residents report living paycheck to paycheck, and 62% lack a "rainy day" fund sufficient to cover three months of unexpected expenses—slightly worse than the national average. Furthermore, a significant portion of the population lacks confidence in basic financial tasks, with 40% unsure how to create a debt paydown plan and 35% struggling to create a monthly budget.

These challenges are particularly acute for younger generations. Nationally, 60% of Gen Z and 59% of Millennials report that limited financial literacy has caused them financial challenges. The problem is compounded by a lack of access; while 68% of teens are eager to take a personal finance course, only 31% report having one available at their school—a gap Michigan's new mandate aims to close. By equipping teachers with high-quality training, the Rehmann and Jump$tart partnership provides a critical support structure to ensure this new educational requirement translates into meaningful, lifelong skills for Michigan's future workforce and citizens.