Financial education curriculum for educators
Financial literacy curriculum and lesson plans for educators.
Financial decisions impact nearly every stage of life, from opening a first bank account and building credit to managing debt, paying taxes, and planning for future goals. Developing financial literacy skills early helps students gain confidence and make informed decisions as they prepare for adulthood. Beginning with students graduating on or after January 1, 2027, Oregon requires Personal Financial Education coursework as part of diploma requirements. The OnPoint Financial Literacy Education curriculum helps educators teach key topics.
12 lessons
Comprehensive curriculum covering essential financial topics.
Classroom ready
Designed for approximately one class period per lesson.
Free resources
No-cost materials available to educators and community organizations.
Standards aligned
Built using Oregon Personal Financial Education standards and requirements established through SB 3.
Curriculum overview.
Give students a strong foundation in financial literacy through 12 lessons covering budgeting, banking, credit, taxes, wealth building, and financial well-being. Lessons can be taught individually or used together as a complete curriculum.
1. Money and Me:
Topics:
- How is our relationship to money formed?
- Why does money matter? (value of personal finance)
Standard(s)
HS.PFE.C.2
Identify and examine the costs and benefits of financial decisions.
HS.PFE.E.1
Analyze the psychology of money through cultural, social, and emotional influences on financial behavior.
2. Managing your money:
Topics:
- What is a budget?
- Income, expenses, and savings
- Wants, needs, and obligations
- Cash flow
Standard(s)
HS.PFE.C.1
Describe budgeting strategies for savings goals, emergency funds, fixed expenses and variable expenses.
HS.PFE.D.1
Define and identify examples of common types of income.
3. Budgeting for real life:
Topics:
- Budgeting basics
Standard(s)
HS.PFE.C.1
Describe budgeting strategies for savings goals, emergency funds, fixed expenses and variable expenses.
HS.PFE.C.3
Apply a budgeting strategy to create a sample budget that includes common costs associated with housing, transportation, and insurance products and analyze the outcomes.
4. The Power of Interest:
Topics:
- Simple interest versus compound interest
Standard(s):
HS.PFE.B.2
Develop goals for building assets using various investment options, and identify potential risks and rewards for a given strategy.
HS.PFE.B.3
Evaluate repayment strategies, risks and costs for various types of consumer credit use, including simple or compound interest calculations.
5. Who is Who in the Financial System
Topics:
- Traditional institutions: Banks, credit unions, brokerage firms
- Modern institutions: Online lenders and fintech companies
- Regulatory bodies: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), SEC, and IRS
Standard(s):
HS.PFE.B.1
Describe the roles of various types of financial institutions, and explore products and services provided by these institutions.
6. Banking Basics
Topics
- Accounts: Checking, savings, and certificates of deposit (CDs)
- Loans: Personal, car, mortgage, and education loans
- Investment products: Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, IRAs, and 401Ks
Standard(s):
HS.PFE.B.1
Describe the roles of various types of financial institutions, and explore products and services provided by these institutions.
7. What is Credit
Topics:
- Definition of credit
- Importance of credit in everyday life
Standard(s):
HS.PFE.A.2
Compare and contrast various types of consumer credit and the costs and benefits of borrowing money.
8. Your Credit Story
Topics:
- Credit score/report factors
- Strategies for building credit
Standard(s):
HS.PFE.A.1:
Understand components used to build credit and investigate actions that could impact personal credit scores.
9. Credit Consequences
Topics:
- Impacts of credit behavior
- Credit case studies (car loan, mortgage, etc.)
Standard(s):
HS.PFE.A.3
Analyze the long-term impacts of high and low credit scores.
HS.PFE.B.3
Evaluate repayment strategies, risks and costs for various types of consumer credit use, including simple or compound interest calculations.
10. Paying Taxes
Topics:
- Why pay taxes?
- Who collects taxes?
- Who can help me with taxes?
Standard(s):
HS.PFE.D.2
Understand the tax filing cycle, including common tax forms and available tax preparation resources and options.
HS.PFE.D.3
Understand taxes associated with various sources of income and common tax credits that could reduce individual tax liability.
HS.PFE.D.4
Understand common types of federal, state, regional, and local taxes and associated tax-funded services provided.
11. Building Wealth
Topics:
- Investing basics
- Investment options
Standard(s):
HS.PFE.B.2
Develop goals for building assets using various investment options, and identify potential risks and rewards for a given strategy.
12. Protecting Your Financial Life
Topics:
- Finding reliable information
- Common types of fraud (e.g., phishing, fake advertisements, scams)
- Monitoring credit and bank statements
- Secure online practices (e.g., strong passwords, recognizing phishing emails)
Standard(s):
HS.PFE.E.2
Analyze and apply multiple sources of information when making consumer decisions.
HS.PFE.E.3
Understand and apply strategies to prevent fraud and personal identity theft.
Financial foundations.
Build a strong foundation of financial literacy by helping students understand their relationship with money, set goals, and develop healthy financial habits.
Lesson 1: Money and me
Lesson 2: Managing your money
Lesson 3: Budgeting for real life
Banking and financial systems.
Introduce students to financial institutions, banking products, and the role banking plays in everyday financial decisions.
Lesson 4: The power of interest
Lesson 5: Who's who in the financial system
Lesson 6: Banking basics
Credit and borrowing.
Help students understand credit, borrowing, credit scores, and the long-term impact financial decisions can have on future opportunities.
Lesson 7: What is credit
Lesson 8: Your credit story
Lesson 9: Credit consequences
Financial responsibility and wealth building.
Prepare students for adult financial responsibilities while introducing concepts that support long-term financial success.
Lesson 10: Paying taxes
Lesson 11: Building wealth
Lesson 12: Protecting your financial life
Curriculum standards and learning outcomes
The OnPoint Financial Literacy Education curriculum is designed to help students develop practical money-management skills they can apply throughout their lives. Through lessons covering budgeting, banking, credit, taxes, wealth building, and financial well-being, students gain experience applying financial concepts to real-world situations while strengthening critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Designed to support Oregon’s Personal Financial Education requirements under SB 3, this curriculum addresses key financial literacy topics including credit scores and borrowing, banking and financial institutions, budgeting and spending, taxes, saving and investing, fraud prevention, and overall financial well-being. Oregon requires students graduating on or after January 1, 2027, to complete Personal Financial Education coursework as part of diploma requirements.
FAQs
Empower the next generation with financial knowledge.
Help students build confidence in managing money, making informed financial decisions, and preparing for life after graduation. Explore free financial literacy lessons and classroom resources designed to support meaningful learning and real-world application.
Beyond this curriculum, OnPoint offers additional financial education resources for educators, students, and families. Explore interactive learning tools through Enrich, financial wellness support from GreenPath, educational articles, calculators, and other financial literacy resources designed to help learners continue building their knowledge beyond the classroom. Visit our Financial education resource center to discover additional tools and programs that support lifelong financial well-being.
Have questions or need classroom support?
Contact the Financial Education team
Contact usDisclosures
General disclaimer: The educational resources provided on this page are intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, tax, investment, or professional advice. Content is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, and OnPoint makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information. Financial laws, tax rules, and industry practices referenced in this curriculum are subject to change and may not reflect the most current requirements.
Permitted use: Curriculum materials are available free of charge and may be used by educators, schools, homeschool programs, nonprofit organizations, and community groups for noncommercial educational purposes. These materials are protected by copyright and may not be modified, sold, or redistributed for commercial purposes without OnPoint’s prior written consent.
Standards and compliance: This curriculum was developed with reference to the Oregon Personal Financial Education content standards adopted under ORS 329.045 and the graduation requirements established by Senate Bill 3 (2023). Use of these materials alone does not guarantee compliance with any local, state, district, accreditation, or graduation requirement. Educators and school administrators are responsible for determining how these resources fit within their instructional programs and standards requirements. For authoritative guidance on diploma requirements and standards implementation, educators should consult the Oregon Department of Education directly.
Lesson durations: Lesson durations are approximate and may vary based on instructional approach, classroom size, student engagement, and supplemental activities.
Third-party resources: Links to third-party educational resources, tools, and partners, including GreenPath and Enrich, are provided as a convenience. GreenPath and Enrich are independent organizations not affiliated with OnPoint Community Credit Union. Their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement. OnPoint is not responsible for the content, availability, or privacy practices of external websites.
Classroom presentations and contact forms: Classroom presentation availability may vary based on volunteer availability, school location, scheduling, and program capacity. Submission of a request does not guarantee classroom placement or presentation scheduling. Information submitted through the classroom presentation request or contact forms is subject to OnPoint’s Privacy Policy. Please do not submit personally identifiable student information through these forms.
Effective date: These disclosures were last reviewed October 26, 2026.
