Evaluating the Impact of Education Policy Reforms on Financial Literacy: A Meta-Analysis of Financial Education Initiatives in U.S. Schools

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of U.S. education policy reforms on financial literacy outcomes through the implementation of financial education initiatives in schools. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, identifying relevant studies published between 2000 and 2023. After removing duplicates and screening based on pre-defined inclusion criteria, 35 studies were included in the final analysis. Data were extracted on key variables such as policy intervention types, student demographics, curriculum content, and assessment methods. The results were synthesized using random-effects meta-analysis, revealing significant improvements in financial literacy scores following policy reforms. However, variations in effectiveness were observed based on socioeconomic status and geographic regions. The findings highlight the critical role of well-structured education policies in enhancing financial literacy among students and offer recommendations for future policy directions to ensure equitable access and outcomes across diverse student populations. There was no financial support for this study.