FLY: Financial Literacy for Youth

The Financial Literacy for Youth initiative — or ‘FLY’ — will make sure that every public school student can learn how to save and spend money by 2030.

FLY was first announced in Mayor Adams' State of the City address earlier this year, and unveiled by Mayor Adams, DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga, and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos on June 18, 2025.

Building Healthy Financial Habits 

June 18, 2025: Mayor Adams announced the first 15 public school districts to receive financial educators who will provide students and their families with free counseling and workshops starting this upcoming school year. Financial educators will have specialized skills in leading workshops and trainings as well as experience working with young people and families; they will support teachers and families to foster a financially-healthy environment for all school children.  

FLY will also pilot in-school banking to give students real-world exposure to safe and affordable banking options and explore additional ways to give students hand-on experience learning about saving and managing money.

Additional program updates will be available on this page as we work to expand FLY to all school districts by 2030. 

Financial Tips for Young Adults

Every student can read DCWP’s Top 10 Tips for Young Consumers to gain information on opening bank accounts, credit scores, college tuition planning, and more. View the Top 10 Tips list.

From Tween to Twentysomething: Helping Young People Secure the Bag

FLY was informed by a public forum DCWP held in November 2024 to solicit insights and recommendations from students, families, and experts to address the gaps in financial empowerment education and resources for young adults.  

• Download DCWP’s report summarizing the public forum 
• Download testimonies from the public forum 

 Access Free Financial Counseling for Adults

If you’re a New Yorker looking for financial guidance and are over the age of 18, you have access to FREE one-on-one financial counseling services through DCWP’s Financial Empowerment Centers, which have helped tens of thousands of New Yorkers improve credit, reduce debt, and increase savings. Visit nyc.gov/TalkMoney or call 311 and say “financial counseling” to schedule an appointment or for more information.