Financial Literacy in High School

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce adopted Ohio’s Learning Standards and Model Curriculum for Financial Literacy for High School in July 2025. The new standards and model curriculum incorporate the academic content on free market capitalism per Ohio law and provide clarity on the essential knowledge and skills students should know to promote financial well-being.

Ohio's Graduation Requirement for Financial Literacy

Under Ohio law, students entering 9th grade on or after July 1, 2022, must earn one half credit of financial literacy as part of Ohio’s graduation requirements. 

  • Students can use the one-half credit of financial literacy as a substitute for a one-half credit elective requirement or a one-half credit of mathematics required for graduation. 
  • ​The one-half credit of math cannot be:  
    • Algebra 1 (or Math 1- if using an integrated approach);
    • Geometry (or Math 2- if using an integrated approach);
    • Algebra 2 or equivalent course; or
    • Advanced Computer Science. 
  • Students who use Advanced Computer Science coursework in place of Algebra 2 or an equivalent course for graduation cannot use the financial literacy one-half credit as a mathematics graduation requirement. These students must use the one-half credit of financial literacy to satisfy a one-half credit electives requirement. 

Ohio law states the study and instruction of financial literacy shall align with Ohio's Learning Standards and Model Curriculum for Financial Literacy. In developing the curriculum for the study and instruction of financial literacy, schools may use available public-private partnerships and resources and materials that exist in business, industry and through the centers for economic education at higher education institutions. 

Ohio laws states educators must be properly licensed to teach financial literacy starting in the 2024-2025 school year. More information on the licensure validation and reimbursement process can be found on the Financial Literacy Licensure Validation and Reimbursement webpage.

Ohio's Learning Standards for Financial Literacy

Ohio’s Learning Standards for Financial Literacy:

  • Balance knowledge, conceptual understanding, and skill development;
  • Address enduring understandings that are the basis for students to make reasoned financial decisions;
  • Focus on important financial literacy topics; and
  • Represent progression across grade bands to create alignment, coherence, and focus for learning.

Ohio’s Learning Standards for Financial Literacy provide a foundation for the knowledge and skills students should know and use to successfully navigate life’s financial stages and enhance their financial well-being. The revised standards also equip students with an understanding of free market capitalism, entrepreneurship, and market interactions.

Standards Crosswalk Document

The Department has created a standards crosswalk document to highlight the changes between the 2018 adopted standards and the revised 2025 standards. The crosswalk document also includes the incorporation of the required academic content on free market capitalism.

Ohio's Model Curriculum for Financial Literacy

Ohio’s Model Curriculum for Financial Literacy expands on Ohio’s Learning Standards for Financial Literacy to provide focused, coherent, and rigorous expectations of the academic content and skills included in each grade band. The revised Financial Literacy in High School model curriculum also incorporates the essential academic content on the principles and concepts of free market capitalism, blending the foundations of the capitalist economic system with the practical application of knowledge and skills to promote financial well-being.

Ohio’s Model Curriculum for Financial Literacy can serve as an essential tool in supporting the use of high-quality instructional strategies and high-quality instructional materials. School districts can use the model curriculum in developing the locally prescribed curriculum.

Financial Literacy Instruction Exemption Model Policy

Ohio Revised Code 3313.603 requires the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to develop and post a model policy and guidelines for districts and schools in exempting students from the financial literacy instruction requirement for participation in a student branch and bank financial literacy program no later than July 1, 2026.

As the instruction exemption is effective September 30th, 2025, local school boards of education and governing authorities of chartered nonpublic schools may adopt a local policy prior to the Department’s release of the model policy. Schools and districts are encouraged to work with their legal counsel to draft the local policy and ensure it meets the criteria set forth in ORC 3313.603.

​Updates on the model policy will be shared on the Department’s Financial Literacy webpages and through email updates. Questions may be directed to Financial.Literacy@education.ohio.gov.

Last Modified: 10/1/2025 9:15:19 AM