Jump$tart Financial Literacy Standards: Helpful Teacher Resource

Jump$tart & CEE Standards Alignment

Find out which of our lessons or games reinforce the individual knowledge statements from the National Standards published by the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and the Council for Economic Education. Currently, the states Kansas, Montana, Connecticut and Hawaii don’t have stand-alone or published standards. So if you’re from one of these states, please consider using this standards alignment to see which lessons or games could be valuable in your class.

Legend:

Long-Term Game
Comprehensive Chapter
Short Lesson
Interactive Calculator
Includes Automatically-Graded Assessment

Standard	Activity
Earning Income
Compensation for a job or career can be in the form of wages, salaries, commissions, tips, or bonuses, and may also include contributions to employee benefits, such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, and education reimbursement programs.	Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package?
In addition to wages and paid benefits, employees may also value intangible (noncash) benefits, such as good working conditions, flexible work hours, telecommuting privileges, and career advancement potential.	Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package?
People vary in their opportunity and willingness to incur the present costs of additional training and education in exchange for future benefits, such as earning potential.	Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package? Lesson – Planning Your Career Path
Employers generally pay higher wages or salaries to more educated, skilled, and productive workers than to less educated, skilled, and productive workers.	Budget Game – Core Concept Lesson – Why Do Some Jobs Pay More Than Others? Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package? Lesson – Planning Your Career Path
Changes in economic conditions, technology, or the labor market can cause changes in income, career opportunities, or employment status.	Lesson – Why Do Some Jobs Pay More Than Others? Lesson – The Anatomy of Unemployment Lesson – Why Good Times Don’t Last Forever
Federal, state, and local taxes fund government-provided goods, services, and transfer payments to individuals. The major types of taxes are income taxes, payroll taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes.	Budget Game – Core Concept Budget Game – Understanding Your Paycheck Lesson – Public Financial Assistance Programs Lesson – Tax Basics You Need to Know Lesson – Paycheck Variation Simulator
The type and amount of taxes people pay depend on their sources of income, amount of income, and amount and type of spending.	Lesson – Tax Basics You Need to Know Lesson – Income Tax Filing Tips & Tricks Lesson – Sales Tax: Who Pays, Collects, and Why? Interactive Lesson – Filing Your 1040
Interest, dividends, and capital appreciation (gains) are examples of unearned income derived from financial investments. Capital gains are subject to different tax rates than earned income.	Stock Game – Core Concept Investing101 – Chapter 03. Making Your First Trade Lesson – The Magic of Compound Interest
Tax deductions and credits reduce income tax liability.	Lesson – Tax Credits & Deductions You Need to Know
Retirement income typically comes from some combination of continued employment earnings, Social Security, employer sponsored retirement plans, and personal investments.	Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement Activity – Saving To Be A Millionaire Lesson – Is an Annuity Right for You?
Owning a small business can be a person’s primary career or can supplement income from other sources.	Lesson – So, You Want to Be Your Own Boss? Lesson – Starting a Business 101
Spending
A budget helps people achieve their financial goals by allocating income to necessary and desired spending, saving, and philanthropy.	Budget Game – Core Concept Lesson – Break Free From Money Stress with a Budget Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan
Consumer decisions are influenced by the price of products or services, the price of alternatives, the consumer’s budget and preferences, and potential impact on the environment, society, and economy.	Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan Lesson – Make The Most of Your Marketing Dollars Lesson – 8 Techniques to Increase Your Sales
When purchasing a good that is expected to be used for a long time, consumers consider the product’s durability, maintenance costs, and various product features.	Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan Lesson – Evaluating Big-Ticket Purchases
Consumers may be influenced by how prices of goods and services are advertised, and whether prices are fixed or negotiable.	Lesson – How to Price Your Products & Services Lesson – Make The Most of Your Marketing Dollars Lesson – 8 Techniques to Increase Your Sales
Consumers incur costs and realize benefits when searching for information related to the purchase of goods and services.	Lesson – How Do You Stop Impulse Purchases? Lesson – Evaluating Big-Ticket Purchases
Housing decisions depend on individual preferences, circumstances, and costs, and can impact personal satisfaction and financial well-being.	Budget Game – Core Concept Activity – Use the Buy vs Lease Calculator Lesson – The Cost of Raising a Family Lesson – Should You Rent or Should You Buy?
People donate money, items, or time to charitable and nonprofit organizations because they value the services provided by the organization and/or gain satisfaction from giving.	Budget Game – Core Concept Lesson – A Guide to Effective Charitable Donations
Federal and state laws, regulations, and consumer protection agencies (e.g., Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Affairs office, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) can help individuals avoid unsafe products, unfair practices, and marketplace fraud.	Lesson – Protect Yourself as a Consumer
Having an organized system for keeping track of spending, saving, and investing makes it easier to make financial decisions.	Lesson – Tame Your Financial Paperwork Lesson – What Your Spending Data Says About You Lesson – Limits and Logs – Personalized Spending and Saving
Saving
Financial institutions offer several types of savings accounts, including regular savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs), that differ in minimum deposits, rates, and deposit insurance coverage.	Budget Game – Core Concept Investing101 Course – Chapter 01. Introduction To Investing Lesson – Choosing the Best Banking Option for You
Deposit account interest rates and fees vary between financial institutions and depend on market conditions and competition.	Investing101 Course – Chapter 01. Introduction To Investing Lesson – Demystifying the Impact of Interest Rates
Unless offered by insured financial institutions, mobile payment accounts and cryptocurrency accounts are not federally insured and usually do not pay interest to depositors.	Lesson – Choosing the Best Banking Option for You Lesson – What is Money?
Inflation can erode the value of savings if the interest rate earned on a savings account is less than the inflation rate.	Lesson – The Impact of Inflation on Your Wallet
Government agencies such as the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the NCUA, along with their counterparts in state government, supervise and regulate financial institutions to improve financial solvency, legal compliance, and consumer protection.	Lesson – Protect Yourself as a Consumer
Tax policies that allow people to save pretax earnings or to reduce or defer taxes on interest earned provide incentives for people to save.	Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement Lesson – Tax Basics You Need to Know
Employer defined contribution retirement plans and health savings accounts can provide incentives for employees to save.	Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement
People can reduce the potential for future financial strife with a partner or spouse by sharing personal financial information, goals, and values prior to combining finances.	Lesson – The Cost of Raising a Family
There are many strategies that can help people manage psychological, emotional, and external obstacles to saving, including automated savings plans, employer matches, and avoiding personal triggers.	Lesson – Automatic Payments: Convenience vs. Risk Lesson – Proven Techniques to Stop Overspending Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan
Investing
A person’s investment risk tolerance depends on factors such as personality, financial resources, investment experiences, and life circumstances.	Stock Game – Core Concept Investing101 – Chapter 01. Introduction To Investing Investing101 – Chapter 02. How the Stock Market Works and Why It Moves Lesson – How to Develop an Investing Strategy
Investors earn investment returns from price changes and annual cash flows (such as interest, dividends or rent). The nominal annual rate of return is the annual total dollar benefit as a percentage of the beginning price.	Stock Game – Core Concept Investing101 – Chapter 05. Now That I Own It, What Should I Do? Lesson – Why Invest in Stocks vs. Keeping in Savings? Lesson – Demystifying the Impact of Interest Rates Lesson – What Will Your Investments Be Worth?
Investors expect to earn higher rates of return when they invest in riskier assets	Stock Game – Core Concept Investing101 – Chapter 04. Building Your $100,000 Portfolio Lesson – How to Choose Stocks Strategically
Because inflation reduces purchasing power over time, the real return on a financial asset is lower than its nominal return	Lesson – Demystifying the Impact of Interest Rates Lesson – The Impact of Inflation on Your Wallet
The prices of financial assets change in response to market conditions, interest rates, company performance, new information, and investor demand.	Stock Game – Core Concept Lesson – Decoding What Moves The Market Investing101 – Chapter 05. Now That I Own It, What Do I Do?
When making diversification and asset allocation decisions, investors consider their risk tolerance, goals, and investing time horizon.	Stock Game – Core Concept Lesson – What is Diversification & How to Spread Your Risk
Expenses of buying, selling, and holding financial assets decrease the rate of return from an investment.	Stock Game – Core Concept Investing101 – Chapter 05. Now That I Own It, What Do I Do?
Tax rules affect the rate of return on different investments, and can vary by holding period, type of income, and type of account.	Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement Activity – Investment Return Calculator Investing101 – Chapter 05. Now That I Own It, What Do I Do?
Common behavioral biases can result in investors making decisions that adversely affect their investment outcomes.	Investing101 – Chapter 10. Investor’s Guide to Success
Financial technology can counterbalance negative behavioral factors when making investment decisions.	Video – Order Types Lesson – How to Choose Stocks Strategically Investing101 – Chapter 10. Investor’s Guide To Success
Many investors buy and sell financial assets through discount brokerage firms that provide inexpensive investment services and advice using financial technology.	Lesson – Finding the Right Brokerage Account
Federal regulation of financial markets is designed to ensure that investors have access to accurate information about potential investments and are protected from fraud.	Investing101 – Chapter 06. Fundamental Analysis – Understanding Earnings and Cash Flow Lesson – How to Read a Balance Sheet Lesson – How to Read an Income Statement
Investors often compare the performance of their investments against a benchmark, such as a diversified stock or bond index.	Investing101 – Chapter 01. Introduction to Investing
Criteria for selecting financial professionals for investment advice include licensing, certifications, education, experience, and cost.	Lesson – Want to Work in Finance?
Managing Credit
Borrowers can compare the cost of credit using the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and other terms in the loan or credit card contract.	Lesson – A Beginner’s Guide to Borrowing Wisely Activity – Car Loan Calculator Lesson – Find Your Best Car Loan Deal
Loans that are secured by collateral have lower interest rates than unsecured loans because they are less risky to lenders.	Lesson – A Beginner’s Guide to Borrowing Wisely Lesson – Mortgage Options for First-Time Homebuyers Lesson – Credit Cards: Terms, Fees, and More
Monthly mortgage payments vary depending on the amount borrowed, the repayment period, and the interest rate, which can be fixed or adjustable.	Lesson – Mortgage Options for First-Time Homebuyers Activity – Buy vs Lease Calculator Lesson – Can You Afford To Buy That House?
Post-secondary education is often financed by students and families/caregivers through a combination of scholarships, grants, student loans, work-study, and savings.	Lesson – Financing Your Education Lesson – Planning Your Career Path
Federal student loans have lower rates and more favorable repayment terms than private student loans, and may be subsidized.	Lesson – Financing Your Education Lesson – Student Loan Repayment Calculator
Down payments reduce the amount needed to borrow.	Lesson – A Beginner’s Guide to Borrowing Wisely Lesson – Mortgage Options for First-Time Homebuyers Lesson – Find Your Best Car Loan Deal Activity – Car Loan Calculator Lesson – Buy vs. Lease a Car Calculator
Lenders assess creditworthiness of potential borrowers by consulting credit reports compiled by credit bureaus.	Budget Game – Core Concept Lesson – What Your Credit Report Says About You
A credit score is a numeric rating that assesses a person’s credit risk based on information in their credit report.	Budget Game – Core Concept Lesson – What Your Credit Report Says About You
Credit reports and credit scores may be requested and used by entities other than lenders.	Lesson – What Your Credit Report Says About You
Borrowers who face negative consequences because they are unable to repay their debts may be able to seek debt management assistance.	Lesson – Getting Help With Debt Repayment Lesson – How to Negotiate With Creditors Lesson – Getting Out of Debt: Debt Snowball and Debt Avalanche
In extreme cases, bankruptcy may be an option for people who are unable to repay their debts.	Lesson – What Is Bankruptcy?
Consumer credit protection laws govern disclosure of credit terms, discrimination in borrowing, and debt collection practices.	Lesson – Getting Help With Debt Repayment Lesson – Protect Yourself as a Consumer
Alternative financial services, such as payday loans, checkcashing services, pawnshops, and instant tax refunds, provide easy access to credit, often at relatively high cost.	Lesson – A Beginner’s Guide to Borrowing Wisely
Managing Risk
People vary with respect to their willingness to accept risk and in how much they are willing to pay for insurance that will allow them to minimze future financial loss.	Lesson – Knowing Your Risks & Risk Tolerance Lesson – Financial Resilience Simulator
The decision to buy insurance depends on perceived risk exposure, the price of insurance coverage, and individual characteristics such as risk attitudes, age, occupation, lifestyle, and financial profile.	Lesson – Knowing Your Risks & Risk Tolerance Lesson – Life Insurance: The Ultimate Safety Net Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive
Some types of insurance coverage are mandatory	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – Car Insurance: How to Lower Your Rates Lesson – What Damage Does Home Insurance Cover? Lesson – Auto Insurance Quote Builder
Insurance premiums are lower for people who take actions to reduce the likelihood and/or financial cost of losses and for those who buy policies with larger deductibles or copayments.	Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive Lesson – Car Insurance: How to Lower Your Rates
Health insurance provides coverage for medically necessary health care and may also cover some preventive care. It is sometimes offered as an employee benefit with the employer paying some or all of the premium cost.	Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package? Lesson – Cost of Healthcare Calculator
Disability insurance replaces income lost when a person is unable to earn their regular income due to injury or illness. In addition to privately purchased policies, some government programs provide disability protection.	Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive Lesson – Don’t Let Disability Derail Your Finances Lesson – Income Protection Insurance Calculator
Auto, homeowner’s and renter’s insurance reimburse policyholders for financial losses to their covered property and the costs of legal liability for their damages to other people or property.	Lesson – Rules for Renters & Homeowners Lesson – Car Insurance: How to Lower Your Rates Lesson – What Damage Does Home Insurance Cover? Lesson – What’s Not Covered in Renter’s Insurance? Lesson – Property Insurance Quote Builder
Life insurance provides funds for beneficiaries in the event of an insured person’s death. Policy proceeds are intended to replace the insured’s lost wages and/or to fund their dependents’ future financial needs.	Lesson – Life Insurance: The Ultimate Safety Net Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement
Unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare are public insurance programs that protect individuals from economic hardship caused by certain risks.	Lesson – Public Financial Assistance Programs Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive
Insurance fraud is a crime that encompasses illegal actions by the buyer (e.g., falsified claims) or seller (e.g., representing non-existent companies) of an insurance contract.	Lessson – How to Avoid Identity Theft, Scams & Fraud
Online transactions and failure to safeguard personal documents can make consumers vulnerable to privacy infringement, identity theft, and fraud.	Lessson – How to Avoid Identity Theft, Scams & Fraud
Extended warranties and service contracts are like an insurance policy	Budget Game – Core Concept Lesson – Receipts: What to Keep and Why Lesson – Tame Your Financial Paperwork