A dedicated course in personal finance at the middle and/or high school level can help students enter the “real world” better prepared to handle their personal finances. Middle school students have a high interest in money – especially in spending it. Math instruction at the middle school level also provides lots of opportunity to put math to use in real-world situations.
High school also happens to coincide with the time when many young people are getting their first job and saving up money for a first car. These young adults are also very often receiving credit card offers in the mail and making plans for higher education. Talk about great teachable moments!
The following are some excellent resources for offering a complete course in personal finance at your school. Some of the courses feature local models while others are packaged programs. In either case, determine what you need and use them as a springboard.
Consider partnering with local businesses or financial institutions to help provide resources and speakers for your course.
Want to see your program or course featured? Email us.
Local Models
Manheim Central Middle School
Amy Koring relies on the Junior Achievement personal finance program, in which members of the business community share their experience with students. See the syllabus for her 7th grade consumer education course. Learn more...
Ephrata High School
See Stacy Burkey’s Scope and Sequence Outline for a 10th grade Consumer Skills course — correlating Pennsylvania Academic Standards are identified for each section. Learn more...
Laurel Valley Middle/High School
See Trish Dalecki’s Scope and Sequence Outline for a 10th grade Introduction to Personal Finance Concepts course at Laurel Valley Middle/High School, with specific materials for each lesson identified. Learn more...
Pre-Packaged Programs
Finding the Keys to Your Financial Success
This one-semester high school curriculum from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the University of Delaware Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship, the Delaware Bankers Association, and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware, is a compilation of lesson plans and materials from a variety of sources boiled down into an easy-to-use format with no textbook needed. Training and support for teachers using the program is offered by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Learn more…
Take Charge of Your Finances
This one-semester high school curriculum sponsored by the University of Arizona and Take Charge America and offered by Family Economics and Financial Education provides a complete 18-week semester course (based on daily, 45-minute class periods). Use the curriculum and materials as a set or only the materials and lessons that are most appropriate to you. It also includes “Life In…,” a spending plan simulation. All materials, including a teacher’s guide, worksheets, assessment tools/rubrics, information sheet handouts, and a student workbook, can be downloaded from the website or purchased in a paper version. Learn more…
Personal Finance Topics and Materials for Economics, Business and Family and Consumer Education Courses
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions provides outlines for an 18-week economics course, an 18-week introductory business course, and a 10-section family and consumer education course, along with suggested curricula to help teachers integrate basic financial lessons into the existing curriculum. Learn more…
