Jump$tart Coalition National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education

Click here to view and download the national standards.

We are very proud that our own Claudia M. Kerbel (President '05-'07) served on the 2006 National Standards Revision Task Force.

We highly encourage educators and all those involved with youth financial education to utilize the national standards as you prepare courses, lesson plans and all forms of education.

Overall competencies are:

Financial Responsibility and Decision Making

Apply reliable information and systematic decision making to personal financial decisions.

Standard 1: Take responsibility for personal financial decisions.
Standard 2: Find and evaluate financial information from a variety of sources.
Standard 3: Summarize major consumer protection laws.
Standard 4: Make financial decisions by systematically considering alternatives and consequences.
Standard 5: Develop communication strategies for discussing financial issues.
Standard 6: Control personal information.

Income and Careers

Use a career plan to develop personal income potential.

Standard 1: Explore career options.
Standard 2: Identify sources of personal income.
Standard 3: Describe factors affecting take-home pay.

Planning and Money Management

Organize personal finances and use a budget to manage cash flow.

Standard 1: Develop a plan for spending and saving.
Standard 2: Develop a system for keeping and using financial records.
Standard 3: Describe how to use different payment methods.
Standard 4: Apply consumer skills to purchase decisions.
Standard 5: Consider charitable giving.
Standard 6: Develop a personal financial plan.
Standard 7: Examine the purpose and importance of a will.

Credit and Debt

Maintain creditworthiness, borrow at favorable terms, and manage debt.

Standard 1: Identify the costs and benefits of various types of credit.
Standard 2: Explain the purpose of a credit record and identify borrowers' credit report rights.
Standard 3: Describe ways to avoid or correct debt problems.
Standard 4: Summarize major consumer credit laws.

Risk Management and Insurance

Use appropriate and cost-effective risk management strategies.

Standard 1: Identify common types of risks and basic risk management methods.
Standard 2: Explain the purpose and importance of property and liability insurance protection.
Standard 3: Explain the purpose and importance of health, disability, and life insurance protection.

Saving and Investing

Implement a diversified investment strategy that is compatible with personal goals.

Standard 1: Discuss how saving contributes to financial well-being.
Standard 2: Explain how investing builds wealth and helps meet financial goals.
Standard 3: Evaluate investment alternatives.
Standard 4: Describe how to buy and sell investments.
Standard 5: Explain how taxes affect the rate of return on investments.
Standard 6: Investigate how agencies that regulate financial markets protect investors.