YFLP — Youth Financial Literacy Project
The YFLP learning pathway

From first money habits to financial independence.

Four levels of financial learning, organized for grades 5–12. Grade ranges guide placement; teachers can choose what fits their students.

4 levels38 units410 planned lessons
Level 1 · Grades 5–6

Financial Foundations

Understand money and develop basic habits around earning, saving, spending, budgeting, and financial decision-making.

8 units Level 2 · Grades 7–8

Financial Essentials

Move from understanding money to actually learning how to manage it.

9 units Level 3 · Grades 9–10

Financial Preparation

Prepare students for increasingly independent financial decisions during high school and early adulthood.

10 units Level 4 · Grades 11–12

Financial Independence

Give students the financial knowledge they need to transition from high school into independent adult life.

11 units

This catalog contains the curriculum structure and lesson outlines. Full teaching content is in development; classroom assignments use lessons published by your school.

Level 4 · Grades 11–12

Financial Independence

Give students the financial knowledge they need to transition from high school into independent adult life.

Unit 1

Financial Independence

8 planned lessons
  1. Transitioning to Financial Independence
  2. Building Your Financial System
  3. Managing Monthly Cash Flow
  4. Financial Priorities
  5. Emergency Funds
  6. Financial Goal Setting
  7. Automating Your Finances
  8. Building Financial Resilience
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Unit 2

Paychecks, Taxes & Employment

12 planned lessons
  1. Understanding Compensation
  2. Reading a Pay Stub
  3. Withholding
  4. W-4 Forms
  5. W-2 Forms
  6. 1099 Income
  7. Employee vs. Independent Contractor
  8. Filing Income Taxes
  9. Tax Deductions
  10. Tax Credits
  11. Recordkeeping
  12. Avoiding Tax Scams
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Unit 3

Advanced Credit & Debt Management

13 planned lessons
  1. Building Credit
  2. Managing Credit Cards
  3. Credit Utilization
  4. Credit Reports
  5. Credit Scores
  6. Loan Applications
  7. APR and Total Borrowing Cost
  8. Debt Repayment
  9. Refinancing
  10. Cosigning
  11. Collections
  12. Bankruptcy Introduction
  13. Avoiding Predatory Debt
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Unit 4

College & Education Finance

13 planned lessons
  1. Understanding the Cost of College
  2. Comparing Colleges Financially
  3. FAFSA
  4. Grants
  5. Scholarships
  6. Federal Student Loans
  7. Private Student Loans
  8. Interest on Student Loans
  9. Work-Study
  10. Comparing Financial Aid Offers
  11. Student Loan Repayment
  12. Alternatives to Traditional College
  13. Calculating Education ROI
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Unit 5

Housing & Living Independently

12 planned lessons
  1. Cost of Living
  2. Renting an Apartment
  3. Rental Applications
  4. Leases
  5. Security Deposits
  6. Utilities
  7. Renters Insurance
  8. Roommates and Shared Expenses
  9. Buying vs. Renting
  10. Introduction to Mortgages
  11. Down Payments
  12. Property Taxes and Homeownership Costs
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Unit 6

Transportation Finance

11 planned lessons
  1. Transportation Costs
  2. Buying a Car
  3. Used vs. New Vehicles
  4. Auto Loans
  5. APR
  6. Down Payments
  7. Leasing
  8. Auto Insurance
  9. Fuel and Maintenance
  10. Depreciation
  11. Total Cost of Ownership
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Unit 7

Insurance & Financial Risk

10 planned lessons
  1. Risk Management
  2. Health Insurance
  3. Premiums and Deductibles
  4. Copays and Coinsurance
  5. Auto Insurance
  6. Renters Insurance
  7. Homeowners Insurance
  8. Life Insurance
  9. Disability Insurance
  10. Choosing Appropriate Coverage
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Unit 8

Investing, Retirement & Wealth Building

17 planned lessons
  1. Setting Investment Goals
  2. Risk Tolerance
  3. Stocks
  4. Bonds
  5. ETFs and Mutual Funds
  6. Index Investing
  7. Asset Allocation
  8. Diversification
  9. Brokerage Accounts
  10. 401(k)s
  11. Employer Matches
  12. Traditional IRAs
  13. Roth IRAs
  14. Compound Growth
  15. Inflation
  16. Building Long-Term Wealth
  17. Avoiding Investment Scams
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Unit 9

Entrepreneurship & Self-Employment

20 planned lessons
  1. Entrepreneurship as a Career
  2. Validating a Business Idea
  3. Market Research
  4. Business Plans
  5. Business Structures
  6. Startup Funding
  7. Business Banking
  8. Revenue and Expenses
  9. Profit and Cash Flow
  10. Pricing
  11. Bookkeeping
  12. Business Taxes
  13. Self-Employment Taxes
  14. Invoicing and Payments
  15. Marketing
  16. Customer Acquisition
  17. Scaling a Business
  18. Managing Business Risk
  19. Separating Business and Personal Finances
  20. Final Business Plan / Venture Project
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Unit 10

Consumer Rights, Fraud & Financial Protection

12 planned lessons
  1. Consumer Rights
  2. Contracts
  3. Warranties
  4. Identity Theft
  5. Credit Freezes
  6. Financial Fraud
  7. Online Scams
  8. Investment Scams
  9. Loan Scams
  10. Protecting Financial Accounts
  11. Disputing Incorrect Charges
  12. Reporting Fraud
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Unit 11

Long-Term Financial Planning

14 planned lessons
  1. Building a Financial Plan
  2. Setting Long-Term Goals
  3. Net Worth
  4. Assets and Liabilities
  5. Increasing Income
  6. Managing Expenses
  7. Building Assets
  8. Managing Debt
  9. Saving and Investing Together
  10. Retirement Planning
  11. Inflation and Purchasing Power
  12. Major Life Events
  13. Updating Your Financial Plan
  14. Defining Personal Financial Success
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