To be a powerful advocate, it is helpful to know what is needed in an effective high school financial education program. Through research, we found six essential elements.

Young people drive our economies—and our future—but most of them have never learned to save, manage, and invest their money. A financial education program is one of the most effective ways to teach money management at an early age and lay a foundation for success later in life.

To be free from financial worry is one of life’s great aspirations. That’s where financial literacy comes in. You can use it to your advantage every time you make a decision about money.

Pioneers in the field of financial literacy designed three simple questions that measure the ABC’s of financial literacy, known as the Big Three. Many people find the questions challenging. How about you?