The cost of college should never discourage anyone from going after a valuable degree. –Arne Duncan, former United States Secretary of EducationLEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this section, you will be able to:Establish financial goalsIdentify strategies for creating and maintaining a budgetDescribe available options for paying for collegeDescribe the benefits and risks of creditDevelop financial literacy skills to prepare for your financial future

Washington’s Basic Education Act requires that school districts provide opportunities for every student to “understand the importance of work and finance and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities.”

Financial education attends to the development of short-term and long-term skills and competencies for academic and personal growth. Financial education supports students’ academic performance in several subject areas and plays a major role in preparing students for college, career, and a life of financial stability and well-being

No surprise—people with more education often earn higher incomes and are unemployed less than those with less education. Those with higher incomes also tend to accumulate more wealth. Why? Research shows that well-educated people tend to make financial decisions that help build wealth. Their strategies, though, can be used by anyone.

With this video series, teach teens and pre-teens how to manage their money and foster an entrepreneurial spirit. Visit PBS Learning Media site to download a handout, discussion questions, and view alignment to additional Washington learning standards.
Permitted use from PBS Learning: Stream, Download and Share

This activity from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has students practice budgeting by planning for a fun overnight trip to a city. T

Essential questions
What types of things should be included in a budget?
How can budgeting help me manage my money?

Students will use their knowledge or availability and scarcity to determine income and earnings.

Students will learn how their values influence financial decisions. Students will understand the difference between a want and need, and they must take care of their needs first when it comes to making financial decisions. They will also learn how opportunity costs and trade-offs can help them with their financial decision making.

Students review the various stages for starting and growing a business, and match them up to the same stages for growing a garden.

Spanish version is also available.

This resource is not openly licensed, but is available for free online viewing for educational purposes.

This website guidance document describes the Debt Slapped project, produced by Consumer Education and Training Services. Debt Slapped provides videos and helpful resource links to help people smartly finance their education.  

These resources were orginally shared at the FEPPP WA529 Plans Overview Workshop held on April 21, 2021.  You will find resources that will help familes learn about and set up college savings plans.