Promising Practice: Use curriculum based on national financial literacy standards. The most effective curriculum will address all six knowledge areas identified by the national standards for financial literacy. This will ensure that students are ready for all of the big financial decisions they will soon face.

Teachers should feel comfortable with the subject matter and its pedagogy. There is growing research that shows the importance of ensuring teachers feel comfortable with the concepts associated with personal finance and the pedagogical approaches to teaching them.

Programs should assess how well students are learning. Evaluations that aim to understand the effect of financial education on financial literacy and behavior are critical.

The program should be sustainable. To support and foster growth of financial education programs, it is beneficial to have strategies in place that ensure a program’s far-reaching impact.

Rigorous programs impact students’ lives. Not all financial education programs are created equal. A graduation requirement ensures that all students receive education on this crucial topic.

The content should be comprehensive and related to national standards. Economists and financial education experts have developed a set of standards that provide a framework that schools can adapt to their needs.