Our Standards
Building the Future, One Student at a Time
Our Financial Literacy Curriculum was developed with a clear vision: every student should graduate high school equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate real-world financial decisions with confidence. To achieve this, we took a backward design approach—starting with what students need to know and be able to do by the end of high school, then mapping out a coherent path through each grade level.
A Ready-to-Use Resource for States and Districts
Our standards offer a strong foundation for any financial literacy initiative and are available for adoption or alignment by states, school districts, and educators nationwide. Whether you're launching a new program or strengthening an existing one, this framework provides the structure and content needed to deliver high-impact financial education across all grade levels.
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We invite education leaders to explore, adopt, and integrate these standards as part of a shared commitment to preparing the next generation for a financially capable future.
Access our full set of Standards, organized around seven topics, including learning outcomes expected by the end of the 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 12th grades.
An Overview of our 7 Standard Areas
Earning Money & Understanding Employment
Income is primarily earned through wages and salaries, which reflect the market value of a person’s skills and experience. Education, job training, and work experience can boost income and expand career opportunities. This topic helps students understand the connection between skill development and earning potential, while also covering other income sources like interest, dividends, and profits. Students explore taxes, job benefits, employment contracts, and career pathways to make informed choices about their future.
Planning, Goal Setting, & Budgeting
Financial management begins with setting goals and creating a budget. Students learn to distinguish needs from wants, plan for short- and long-term goals, and manage both fixed and variable expenses. This topic also highlights emergency planning and provides practical tools for building strong financial habits.
Saving for the Future
Saving is setting aside part of income for future needs. Students explore why people save, how savings grow over time, and how factors like interest and inflation impact value. This topic encourages early saving habits and introduces tools like savings accounts and emergency funds to build financial security.
Understanding Insurance & Risk
To protect against financial loss, people manage risk by accepting it, reducing it, or transferring it through insurance. This topic introduces students to different types of insurance—health, auto, life, and property—and how they help safeguard income and assets. Students learn basic risk management, how behavior affects insurance costs, and how to evaluate and choose coverage based on their needs.
Investing Goals & Strategies
Investing involves buying financial assets to grow wealth over time. Students learn the difference between saving and investing, the relationship between risk and return, and how diversification helps manage risk. This topic introduces common investment options—like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds—and emphasizes long-term planning, including retirement goals.
Spending Money & Making Informed Buying Decisions
Because resources are limited, people must make choices about what to buy. This topic teaches students to make informed spending decisions through budgeting, planning, and comparison shopping. They explore how advertising influences choices, the difference between brand and generic products, and their rights as consumers. Students also learn strategies to avoid impulse buying and make thoughtful, value-based purchases.
Credit & Debt Responsibility
Credit lets people buy now and pay later—with interest. Students learn about types of credit, like loans and credit cards, and how interest rates vary based on credit history and risk. This topic emphasizes responsible borrowing, understanding credit scores, and the difference between good and bad debt. Students gain tools to evaluate credit options and make smart financial decisions.