Economics and Financial Literacy Resources

Visit the History-Social Science (HSS) Professional Learning and Curriculum Resources web page to access resources for general kindergarten through grade (K–12) social science; California, United States, and world history; civics, government, and service-learning; geography and environmental education; and global education and international studies courses.

Looking for comprehensive resources to support financial literacy specifically? The Grades K–12 Financial Literacy Resources web page provides free resources from nonprofit agencies to support financial literacy education in grades K–12, organized into categories for educators, researchers, students, and families.

General Resources

The 2016 California HSS Framework and the California HSS Content Standards include guidance and standards to support a grade twelve, one-semester economics course. Educational content standards describe what students should know and be able to do in each subject at each grade, while curriculum frameworks provide guidance for implementing the standards adopted by the State Board of Education.

California HSS Framework Financial Literacy Elective (PDF) (2016)
Provides instructional planning considerations for an elective grade nine financial literacy course.

California Mathematics Framework (2023)
The 2023 California Mathematics Framework Chapter 8 (DOCX) includes information  related to financial algebra as well as financial decision making. Appendix C (DOCX) also includes a vignette focusing on fair living wages.

California Mathematics Framework (2013), Appendix A: Financial Literacy and Mathematics Education (PDF)
Appendix A of the 2013 California Mathematics Framework offers instructional planning with strategies that support students in K–12 in learning economics and financial literacy concepts for career and college success.

National Standards for Financial Literacy K–12 (PDF)
General standards from the Council for Economic Education (CEE) and Jump$tart, which break financial literacy up into six major topics: earning income; buying goods and services; saving; using credit; investing; protecting and insuring.

Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics (PDF)
Standards designed by the CEE primarily for curriculum developers. They include the 20 most important and enduring ideas, concepts, and issues, as well as benchmarks for financial literacy education.

Organizations

California Association of School Economics Teachers
Organization of educators promoting the effective teaching of economic principles in grades K–12, including teacher resources and the Economics Teacher Certification Program.

The California Council on Economic Education (CCEE)
Non-partisan consortium of education, business, government, and labor leaders dedicated to advancing economic literacy throughout the state. They offer curriculum resources, webinars, student contests, and professional development opportunities. They are affiliated with the national Council for Economic Education .

CEE
Network of state councils and local centers for economic education delivering Economics America® and other programs to K–12 teachers. They host EconEdLink , which provides hundreds of free lessons, tools, and videos to support financial literacy and economics education. EconEdLink also houses the archives of Understanding Fiscal Responsibility , a series of lessons that focus on government institutions, the national debt, and budget deficits.

Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE)
The mission of the FTE is to introduce young individuals, selected for their leadership potential, to an economic way of thinking about national and international issues, and to promote excellence in economic education by helping teachers of economics become more effective educators.

Jump$tart Coalition
Consisting of more than 100 national organizations and a network of 51 affiliated state coalitions, Jump$tart supports financial literacy education by facilitating professional support, hosting conferences and other professional learning events, and providing teaching resources. The California Jump$tart provides resources and connections specific to California educators.

Marginal Revolution University (MRU)
Founded by economics professors Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok, MRU supports teachers with lesson plans, videos, interactive practice, and other materials based on insights from cognitive science to help students retain information and apply it in new situations.

National Association of Economic Educators
Supports economic educators through monthly professional development opportunities, annual conferences, educator awards, and mentoring.

Next Generation Personal Finance (NGPF)
NGPF offers a wide variety of lessons and curriculum resources, including a collection of resources focused on economics. NGPF also offers professional development opportunities, as well as community and advocacy tools to support K–12 financial literacy.