Financial Literacy Instruction

Financial literacy is...

"Possessing the skills and knowledge on financial matters to confidently take effective action that best fulfills an individual’s personal, family, and global community goals."

– The National Financial Educators Council

Financial Literacy Guidance

The Iowa Department of Education issued the following financial literacy guidance subsequent to Governor Reynold's signing SF2415 into law. SF 391 provided additional guidance related to financial literacy. 

Financial Literacy Guidance

Laws and Regulations

Iowa Administrative Code 281-12.5(17)(d)

Financial Literacy Standards

The Financial Literacy Standards are part of the Iowa Academic Standards 21st Century Skills.

Financial Literacy Resources

Websites

American Bankers Association (ABA) Financial Education Programs - Offers several ways to get involved with financial literacy, including its Teach Children to Save program each April; Get Smart About Credit program each October; and Lights, Camera, Save! video contest.

America Saves - A campaign managed by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America, this campaign seeks to motivate, encourage, and support low- to moderate-income households to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth.

Banzai - A free online financial literacy program for teachers, which fulfills many state-mandated requirements for personal finance and financial literacy.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) - The CFPB’s youth financial education website contains guides for educators and parents along with activities for grades K-12.  The activities are based on the building blocks of financial capability, a research-based framework for helping students at different developmental stages to acquire the skills and knowledge associated with adult financial well-being. Other resources include:

• Searchable activities for grades K-12 including 275 free activities to teach the building blocks of financial capability across the curriculum, designed for use within a typical class period. 
• Meet the Money Monsters stories introduce elementary aged students to ideas, habits, and activities that they'll need as they grow up and start to manage money. 
• A searchable Financial terms glossary that has definitions that help build financial understanding.
• Free printed resources for youth financial education such as story booklets, posters, and bookmarks

Council for Economic Education (CEE) - An organization focusing on the economic and financial education of students from kindergarten through high school.

Department of Revenue Student Tax Packet - Check out this Department of Revenue resource to help students learn more about filing tax returns.

EVERFI - Supports schools and families across Iowa with interactive, online financial literacy resources for elementary through high school students. Check out EVERFI’s remote learning resources for educators and families.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - Free classroom resources for K-16 educators to use to teach about money and banking, economics, personal finance, and the Federal Reserve.

Financial Literacy Modules - AEA PD Online has created a series of online modules dedicated to growing teacher knowledge around financial literacy issues. They have created modules around an introduction to financial literacy, banking, savings, and payment types. Teachers can use their normal AEA login in order to access these modules. If teachers complete every module, they can sign up to receive license renewal credit.

Financial Skills for Smart Living - Many of our every day decisions have a financial impact, which makes personal finance a crucial skill. It applies in almost every aspect of life. It’s especially important in high school, before students venture on their own and manage their own wealth. Financial Skills for Smart Living will fill the void in high school financial literacy education.

Foolproof Education - Foolproof gives middle school and high school students a unique and ethically-driven financial literacy and consumer life skills curriculum. We teach students the power of healthy skepticism and how to identify and neutralize misinformation. Our curriculum is module based, is all online and digital. All modules have self grading pre and post test. FoolProof is free of charge.

Hands on Banking - Online financial courses include free instructor guides with classroom lessons and activities that will help you guide students through real-life scenarios, group discussions and other activities designed to teach valuable money management skills and help them take control of their finances.

Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) - An organization dedicated to helping high school students and their parents learn about saving for college and offering opportunities to sponsor financial planning guides, resources, and meetings.

Iowa Jump$tart Coalition - A coalition of organizations that promote financial literacy in Iowa. It offers options to sponsor a Personal Financial Literacy Conference each July and Money Smart Week activities each April.

Iowa State Extension Financial Literacy Lesson Plans - These lesson plans are targeted to K-5 teachers and aligned to Iowa's financial literacy standards.

Iowa Student Loan - Offers a variety of tools and resources to help students prepare for the cost of college, including ROCI, an online tutorial that allows students to compare various types of jobs and their associated starting salaries, and the Student Loan Game Plan to help students learn how to manage college expenses.

Junior Achievement In Iowa - Junior Achievement inspires and prepares students to succeed in the global economy through volunteer-delivered, experiential programs steeped in financial literacy, employability, and entrepreneurship skills. In Iowa, Junior Achievement is part of the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Our financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs empower students to make a connection between what they learn in school and how it can be applied in the real world.

Junior Achievement Here to Career - Whether you're searching for a career path or need help with next steps, you can use JA Here to Career to kickstart your career journey and make strides toward your career goals.

Money Smart: A Financial Education Program - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provides financial education curriculum and resources free of charge for consumers or small businesses.

Money Smart Week - A public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances.

MyMoney.gov - A U.S. government website provides training resources for teaching the basics about financial education, from balancing a checkbook to investing in a 401(k). The My Money Five section describes five principles related to money: earn, save, invest, spend, protect, and borrow. Checklists, calculators, and other financial worksheets are included on the site.

National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) - A private, nonprofit national foundation providing youth and adult financial education resources, training tools, and research.

Next Gen Personal Finance - This site connects educators with a multitude of free and high quality financial literacy resources. There are lesson plans, video clips, case studies, a semester-long sample course, and more.

OppU - This website includes links to several free online courses on money management.

Save 4 Later - Saving for retirement is an important aspect of financial literacy. This website helps students see the steps for planning for retirement.

SmartHER Money - Statistically women have less access to financial resources. This website helps women learn about financial planning from other women.

Stock Market Game - An online simulation of the global capital markets that engages students Grades 4-12 in the world of economics, investing and personal finance, and prepares them for financially independent futures.

Take Charge Today - A program and curriculum with a decision-based approach to personal finance.

TS Institute - A foundation committed to creating a stronger, more financially savvy future generation through a K-12 financial literacy program.

University of Northern Iowa's Financial Skills for Smart Living - Many of our every day decisions have a financial impact, which makes personal finance a crucial skill. It applies in almost every aspect of life. It’s especially important in high school, before students venture on their own and manage their own wealth. Financial Skills for Smart Living® will fill the void in high school financial literacy education.