There is a lot of information available, but some of it may be biased, prescriptive, or just plain incorrect. It’s important to find quality content that provides information that is useful in helping students make decisions on their own.
Financial education is rooted in math and economic concepts, like compound interest. It is important to provide students with the opportunity to think critically about the mechanics of financial decision making in order to make informed decisions for themselves.
The world moves fast. New technology pops up everywhere, shifting the way we pay for goods and services. Consider when a curriculum was last updated and if any of the information, such as tax law, may have changed.
There are many curriculum choices available to teachers. Consider whether the materials are easy to order or access online. Another good indicator is whether references or additional supporting resources are available.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created a curriculum review tool to help individuals assess any curriculum. This review tool is based on four dimensions: content, utility, quality, and efficacy.
The RAND Corporation created a Tool for Reviewing K–12 Financial Education Curricula that guides teachers and curriculum developers through three steps: prepare for review, review the curriculum, and use the information from the review
Young Money is a charity in the United Kingdom that supports youth financial education. It developed a Quality Mark booklet to evaluate resources.
The following organizations provide lesson plans, activities, and additional resources. You can use their resources to help you assess potential curriculum and determine what best fits your needs.
The Federal Reserve offers videos, lesson plans, and activities for K–12, college students, and adults.
CEE is a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting financial and economic education for students K-12. You can join their group to get updates on new research, webinars, and events.
finEDge is a research-based financial education program for high schoolers. Created by experts at the University of Chicago, the program’s content and pedagogical approach are based on learning science and behavioral change research. The goal is for finEDge students is to leave the program with an integrated, self-reinforcing foundation of productive financial decision-making skills, attitudes, and knowledge.
