Kansas offers financial literacy as an elective course option for students. The state has defined 206 financial literacy standards spanning 6 topic areas that districts can incorporate into their course offerings.

Last updated: March 2026

206 Standards
6 Topic Areas
elective Mandate Status
N/A Grade Levels

Does Kansas Require Financial Literacy Education?

Not as a requirement. Kansas offers financial literacy as an elective option, meaning districts may choose to include it but students are not required to complete it for graduation. Kansas does not mandate financial literacy as a standalone course or state requirement. However, districts may integrate personal finance concepts into social studies, mathematics, or career/technical education curricula at their discretion.

Mandate Details

Status
elective
Standalone Course
No
Legislation
K.S.A. 72-3236 (2003 (originally enacted as L. 2003, ch. 39, sec. 1))
Kansas State Board of Education Graduation Requirement (November 10, 2022 Board Vote) (2022 (applies to students entering 9th grade in 2023-2024; Class of 2027))

Key Agencies

Kansas Department of Education
State education authority; sets standards and provides procurement guidance
Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB)
Represents school districts and facilitates cooperative purchasing agreements

What Are Kansas's Financial Literacy Standards?

Kansas has 206 financial literacy standards organized across 6 topic areas. These topics range from Investing and Managing Credit to Saving, covering the full spectrum of personal finance education.

43 standards
Investing
29 covered 14 gaps
43 standards
Managing Credit
39 covered 4 gaps
34 standards
Earning Income
18 covered 16 gaps
30 standards
Managing Risk
18 covered 12 gaps
29 standards
Spending
20 covered 9 gaps
27 standards
Saving
19 covered 8 gaps

How Kansas School Districts Adopt Financial Literacy Curriculum

Kansas is an open territory state, meaning individual districts have the authority to select and purchase curriculum directly without state-level approval. Kansas does not have a state-mandated adoption list. School districts have autonomy to select and purchase educational materials that align with state standards.

Purchasing Process

Individual school districts make purchasing decisions for instructional materials. Districts may participate in cooperative purchasing agreements to leverage collective buying power, but adoption decisions remain decentralized.

Decision Level

School districts in Kansas independently evaluate and select educational materials. State standards provide guidance, but districts retain full authority over curriculum and material purchases.

Cooperative Purchasing Options

Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) Cooperative Purchasing Regional Educational Service Centers (RESCs) Kansas Cooperative Purchasing Coalition

Curriculum That Meets Kansas's Financial Literacy Standards

Districts looking for a standards-aligned financial literacy curriculum can use iKnowFi Academy — a self-paced, online platform built on the Absorb LMS that maps directly to Kansas's learning objectives. iKnowFi Academy covers 143 of 206 standards (69.4% coverage) across 10 courses.

Kansas Standards Coverage

69.4%
143 of 206 standards covered 10 courses

Aligned Courses

Borrowing Money

4 modules · 11 standards aligned

Establishing Credit

4 modules · 12 standards aligned

Financial Building Blocks

3 modules · 12 standards aligned

Financial Preparation and Recovery

4 modules · 26 standards aligned

Making Housing Decisions

3 modules · 7 standards aligned

Managing Your Debt

3 modules · 9 standards aligned

Managing Your Money

3 modules · 11 standards aligned

The Importance of Saving

3 modules · 10 standards aligned

Using Credit Cards

1 module · 3 standards aligned

Your Financial Future

3 modules · 42 standards aligned

Kansas's Financial Literacy Standards & iKnowFi Academy Alignment

All 206 standards — 143 covered by iKnowFi Academy.

Investing 29/43 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
STD-91 Give examples of factors that can influence a person’s risk tolerance. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-92 Discuss how a person’s risk tolerance influences their investment decisions. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-93 Assess their personal risk tolerance using an online tool or worksheet. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-94 Describe the different types of annual cash flows that can be received by investors. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-95 Compare nominal annual rates of return over time on different types of investments, including cash flows and price changes. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-97 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of investing in riskier assets. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-98 Investigate the long-run average rates of returns on small-company stocks, large-company stocks, corporate bonds, and Treasury bonds. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-100 Explain why bonds with longer maturities generally earn a higher return than shorter-term bonds. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-101 Describe the impact of inflation on prices over time. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-103 Find the current rate paid on CDs at a bank and calculate the expected real rate after inflation. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-104 Describe factors that influence the prices of financial assets. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-105 Predict what could happen to the price of a stock if new information is reported about the company or its products. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-107 Explain why the market price of some assets, such as bonds and real estate, increase when interest rates decrease. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-108 Recommend portfolio allocation between major asset classes for a short-term goal versus a long-term goal. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-109 Discuss the pros and cons of investing in a diversified mutual fund versus investing in a small number of individual stocks. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-110 Suggest an appropriate asset allocation for a very risk averse person versus a very risk tolerant person. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-111 Explain how target date retirement funds reallocate investments over time to meet their investment objective. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-112 Discuss how the expenses associated with buying and selling investments can impact rates of return and investment outcomes. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-113 Compare the expense ratios for several mutual funds. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-114 Explain why an actively managed mutual fund usually has a higher expense ratio than an index fund. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-115 Compare tax rates paid on interest income versus short-term and long-term capital gains. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-116 Describe the advantages of investing through a tax-deferred account such as an IRA or 401(k) versus a taxable account. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-117 Investigate the contribution limits and tax advantages of a traditional IRA versus a Roth IRA. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-120 Explore common financial technologies used for investing, including automated trading platforms. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-127 Explain the importance of having access to full and accurate information about potential investments. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-130 Discuss the advantages of investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks a market index rather than investing in actively managed mutual funds or individual stocks and bonds. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-131 Discuss reasons that a person might want to hire a financial professional to manage their investments or provide investment advice. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-132 Explain the importance of licensing, certifications, education, and experience as criteria for selecting a financial professional for investment management or advice. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-133 Investigate where and how to find qualified financial professionals. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-96 Explain why assets that do not produce income or are exposed to large price fluctuation (such as collectibles, precious metals, and cryptocurrencies) are described as speculative investments. 12 —
STD-99 Explain why the expected rate of return on a value stock or mutual fund is likely to be lower than that of a growth stock or mutual fund. 12 —
STD-102 Explain the relationship between nominal and real returns. 12 —
STD-106 Discuss how economic downturns that result in high unemployment can affect the prices of financial assets. 12 —
STD-118 Identify several behavioral biases that can result in poor investment decisions (e.g. loss aversion, investing in employer stock, home bias, mental accounting). 12 —
STD-119 Brainstorm methods for avoiding negative consequences from behavioral biases. 12 —
STD-121 Explain how automating investment activities can help people avoid making emotional investment decisions. 12 —
STD-122 Discuss how the development of financial technology has made it easier for people of all income and education levels to participate in financial markets. 12 —
STD-123 Choose a discount broker and research the minimum starting account balance, minimum monthly investment, and trading costs. 12 —
STD-124 Identify the advantages and disadvantages of robo-advising and other investment-related financial technologies. 12 —
STD-125 Explain the role of federal regulators in financial markets. 12 —
STD-126 Discuss why insider trading is illegal and harmful to investment markets. 12 —
STD-128 Explain why investors often compare portfolio performance to a benchmark such as the S&P 500 Index. 12 —
STD-129 Research the composition of the most popular benchmark indices and compare their recent performance. 12 —
Managing Credit 39/43 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
STD-134 Describe how credit card grace periods, methods of interest calculation, and fees affect borrowing costs. 12 Using Credit Cards
STD-135 Compare the cost of borrowing $1,000 using consumer credit options that differ in rates and fees. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-136 Give examples of unsecured and secured loans. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-137 Explain why lenders charge lower interest rates on secured loans than on unsecured loans. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-138 Compare what happens if a borrower fails to make required payments on a secured loan, such as an auto loan or a home mortgage, versus failing to pay a credit card account. 12 Managing Your Debt
STD-139 Identify the type of collateral required for a mortgage loan. 12 Making Housing Decisions
STD-140 Differentiate between adjustable-rate and fixed-rate mortgages. 12 Making Housing Decisions
STD-141 Compare monthly mortgage payments for loans that differ in repayment period, amount borrowed, and interest rate. 12 Making Housing Decisions
STD-142 Describe the different sources of funding for post-secondary education. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-146 Compare federal and private student loans based on interest rates, repayment rules, and other characteristics. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-147 Describe the process of applying for a student loan. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-148 Estimate total interest on various student loans based on interest rates and repayment plans. 12 Managing Your Debt
STD-149 Predict the potential consequences of deferred payment of student loans. 12 Managing Your Debt
STD-150 Identify examples of loans that may require down payments. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-151 Given the price of a home, estimate the amount of down payment required. 12 Making Housing Decisions
STD-152 For a specified loan amount, compare the monthly loan payment with a 10% down payment versus a 20% down payment. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-153 Explain how a down payment makes a borrower more attractive to a lender and motivates loan repayment by the borrower. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-154 Identify the primary organizations that maintain and provide consumer credit reports. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-155 Assess the value to a potential lender of the information contained in a credit report. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-156 Explain how a person can get a free copy of their credit report and why this is advisable. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-157 Outline the process of disputing inaccurate credit report information. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-158 Identify the main factors that are included in credit score calculations. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-159 Explain how a borrower’s credit score can impact their cost of credit and their ability to get credit. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-160 Recommend ways that a person can increase their credit score. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-161 Explain how landlords, potential employers, and insurance companies use credit reports and credit scores in decision-making. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-162 Provide examples of benefits associated with having a good credit score. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-163 Compare the effect of soft versus hard credit inquiries on a person’s credit score. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-164 Describe how failing to repay a loan can negatively impact a person’s finances and life. 12 Managing Your Debt
STD-165 Identify sources of assistance with debt management. 12 Managing Your Debt
STD-166 Create a plan for a person who is having difficulty repaying debt. 12 Managing Your Debt
STD-167 Compare the costs and benefits associated with for-profit versus non-profit credit counseling services. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-168 Describe the purpose of bankruptcy laws. 12 Managing Your Debt
STD-169 Investigate the effects of bankruptcy on assets, employment, and future access to credit. 12 Managing Your Debt
STD-171 Explain the rationale behind laws that require people to have access to full information about credit cards and loans before they borrow money. 12 Using Credit Cards
STD-172 Discuss the importance of protecting borrowers from discrimination and abusive marketing or collection practices. 12 Managing Your Debt
STD-173 Research where to find credible sources of up-to-date information on credit rights and responsibilities. 12 Establishing Credit
STD-174 Identify products and practices that are classified as alternative financial services. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-175 Discuss the costs and benefits of using alternative financial services relative to traditional banking. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-176 Explain how using payday loans can cause a cycle of debt. 12 Borrowing Money
STD-143 Explain the role the FAFSA plays in applying for college financial aid. 12 —
STD-144 Identify scholarships and grants for which they are eligible. 12 —
STD-145 Estimate the reduction in total cost of education and potential student loan debt if they complete their first two years of college at a community college before transferring to a four-year institution. 12 —
STD-170 Compare the results of liquidation versus reorganization bankruptcy. 12 —
Earning Income 18/34 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
STD-4 Examine the benefits of participating in employer-sponsored retirement savings plans and healthcare savings plans. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-8 Evaluate the costs and benefits of investing in additional education or training. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-9 Explain how differences in people’s life circumstances can affect their opportunity and willingness to further their education or training. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-11 Identify different types of jobs and careers where wages and salaries depend on a worker’s productivity and skills. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-12 Explain why wages or salaries vary among employees in different types of jobs and among workers in the same jobs. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-17 Calculate the amount of taxes a person is likely to pay when given information or data about the person’s sources of income and amount of spending. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-18 Identify which level(s) of government typically receive(s) the tax revenue for income taxes, payroll taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-20 Investigate the federal and state tax rates applicable to different sources of income. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-21 Compare sales tax rates paid on different types of goods in their state and for online purchases. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-22 Differentiate between gross, net, and taxable income. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-23 Explain why some income is reported on an IRS Form W-2 and some is reported on an IRS Form 1099, and how that could affect their taxes. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-24 Explain the difference between earned and unearned income. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-26 Complete IRS Form W-4. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-27 Explain the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-29 Identify different potential sources of retirement income. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-30 Describe the importance of having multiple sources of income in retirement, such as Social Security, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and personal investments. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-31 Explain the importance of participating in employer-sponsored retirement plans, when available, and contributing enough to qualify for the maximum employer match. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-32 Report the average benefit paid to a retiree living on Social Security today. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-1 Research potential income and employee benefit packages that are likely to be offered to new employees by various companies, government agencies, or not-for-profit organizations. 12 —
STD-2 Explain why people should evaluate employee benefits in addition to wages and salaries when choosing between job and career opportunities. 12 —
STD-3 Differentiate between contributory and non-contributory employee benefits. 12 —
STD-5 Give examples of intangible job benefits. 12 —
STD-6 Describe how intangible benefits can affect a worker’s career choices and income. 12 —
STD-7 Evaluate the tradeoffs between income and non-income factors when making career or job choices. 12 —
STD-10 Compare earnings and unemployment rates by level of education and training. 12 —
STD-13 Discuss possible explanations for the persistence of race and gender pay gaps. 12 —
STD-14 Discuss how economic and labor market conditions can affect income, career opportunities, and employment status. 12 —
STD-15 Evaluate the impact of technological advances on employment and income. 12 —
STD-16 Discuss the effects of an economic downturn on employment opportunities for people with different characteristics, such as education, experience, employment type, ethnicity, and gender. 12 —
STD-19 Describe the benefits they receive, or may receive in the future, from government-collected tax revenue. 12 —
STD-25 Compare the tax rates assessed on earned income, interest income, and capital gains income. 12 —
STD-28 Identify several examples of tax credits, determining whether they are refundable or non-refundable, and the groups of people who benefit most from each type. 12 —
STD-33 Evaluate the benefits and costs of gig employment, such as driving for a cab or delivery service. 12 —
STD-34 Discuss the pros and cons of small business ownership as their primary source of income. 12 —
Managing Risk 18/30 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
STD-177 Discuss whether a premium paid to insure against a crash that never happens is wasted. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-178 Analyze the conditions under which it is appropriate for young adults to have life, health, and disability insurance. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-179 Identify individual characteristics that influence insurance purchase decisions. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-180 Recommend types of insurance needed by people with different characteristics. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-181 Explain why homeowners’ insurance is required by a lender when a homeowner takes out a mortgage. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-182 Discuss why most states mandate auto liability coverage. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-187 Discuss the advantages of obtaining health insurance coverage through an employer plan versus buying private insurance or being uninsured. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-188 Compare the cost of health insurance to the potential financial consequences of not having health insurance. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-189 Estimate the effect on different health insurance deductibles and coinsurance rates on out-of-pocket medical costs. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-192 Explain the primary types of losses covered by auto, homeowner’s, and renter’s insurance policies. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-194 Identify factors that influence the cost of renter’s insurance and homeowners’ insurance. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-197 Discuss how state unemployment programs can help reduce economic hardship caused by job losses during a recession or pandemic. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-198 Compare the Medicare and Medicaid programs based on who they cover and how they are funded. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-199 Provide examples of insurance fraud. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-201 Provide examples of how online behavior, e-mail and text-message scams, telemarketers, and other methods make consumers vulnerable to privacy infringement, identity theft, and fraud. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-202 Describe conditions under which individuals should and should not disclose their Social Security numbers, account numbers, or other sensitive information. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-203 Recommend strategies to reduce the risk of identity theft and financial fraud. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-204 Explain the steps an identity theft victim should take to limit losses and restore personal security. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-183 Research the minimum auto liability insurance required in the state they live in and whether it is sufficient to cover typical auto accident financial losses. 12 —
STD-184 Research factors that result in lower auto insurance premiums. 12 —
STD-185 Explain why taking a safe driving course can lower a driver’s auto insurance premium. 12 —
STD-186 Discuss the pros and cons of buying an auto insurance policy with a higher deductible. 12 —
STD-190 Compare disability coverage offered by individual policies, employee benefit plans, Social Security, workers’ compensation, and temporary disability programs (in some states). 12 —
STD-191 Assess the extent of financial risk and need for disability insurance using hypothetical disability scenarios. 12 —
STD-193 Describe situations where someone may be liable for injuries or damages to another person or their property. 12 —
STD-195 Explain how a person’s death can result in financial losses to others. 12 —
STD-196 Discuss the benefits and costs of purchasing life insurance on the primary earners in a household. 12 —
STD-200 Investigate the legal consequence for individuals who are convicted of insurance fraud. 12 —
STD-205 Evaluate the costs and benefits of buying an extended warranty on a specific item (e.g. cellphone, laptop, or vehicle) considering the likelihood of product failure, cost of replacing the item, and price of the warranty. 12 —
STD-206 Explain how extended warranties or service contracts are similar to and different from insurance. 12 —
Spending 20/29 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
STD-35 Identify their short-term and long-term financial goals. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-36 Develop a budget to allocate current income to necessary and desired spending, including estimates for both fixed and variable expenses. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-37 Explain methods for adjusting a budget for unexpected expenses or emergencies. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-38 Evaluate the advantages of using budgeting tools, such as spreadsheets or apps. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-39 Select a product or service and describe the various factors that may influence a consumer’s purchase decision. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-40 Describe a process for making an informed consumer decision. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-42 Explain the factors to evaluate when buying a durable good. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-43 Analyze the cost and features of three competing products or services. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-48 Explain how pre-purchase research encourages consumers to avoid impulse buying. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-49 Brainstorm consumer research strategies and resources to use when making purchase decisions. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-51 Identify financial and personal reasons that younger adults often choose to rent a home instead of buying. 12 Making Housing Decisions
STD-52 Compare the short-term and long-term costs and benefits of renting versus buying a home in their city of residence. 12 Making Housing Decisions
STD-53 Define key rental contract terminology, including lease term, security deposit, grace period, and eviction. 12 Making Housing Decisions
STD-57 Describe the roles and responsibilities of government agencies that help protect consumers from fraud. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-58 Identify state and federal consumer protection laws based on the issues they address and the safeguards they provide. 12 Using Credit Cards
STD-59 Investigate common types of consumer fraud and unfair or deceptive business practices, including online scams, phone solicitations, and redlining. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-60 Make recommendations for sources of help for consumers who have experienced fraud. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
STD-61 Explain how having a system for financial record-keeping can make it easier to make financial decisions. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-62 Develop a system for keeping track of spending, saving, and investing. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-63 Research financial technology options for financial record-keeping. 12 Financial Building Blocks
STD-41 List the positive and negative effects of a recent consumer decision on the environment, society, and the economy. 12 —
STD-44 Compare product choices based on their impacts on the environment or society. 12 —
STD-45 List different ways retailers advertise the prices of their products. 12 —
STD-46 Describe how inflation affects purchase decisions and the price of goods and services. 12 —
STD-47 Summarize how negotiation affects consumer decisions and the price of goods and services. 12 —
STD-50 Analyze social media marketing and advertising techniques designed to encourage spending. 12 —
STD-54 Discuss the motivations for and benefits of donating money, items, or time. 12 —
STD-55 Develop a list of charitable organizations and provide a possible reason that a donor might want to give money to each organization. 12 —
STD-56 Identify specific steps one should take when researching charitable and other not-for-profit organizations. 12 —
Saving 19/27 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
STD-64 Compare the features of regular savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-65 Explain why CDs typically pay higher interest rates than regular savings accounts or interest-bearing checking accounts. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-66 Select a preferred location for a savings account based on comparison of interest rates and fees at different types of financial institutions. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-69 Research mobile payment account alternatives. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-71 Explain why storing money in a mobile payment account can reduce the ability to grow savings. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-74 Investigate how federal I bonds provide inflation protection for savers. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-75 Investigate the areas of financial institution operations that are subject to state and/or federal regulation and supervision. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-78 Explain how traditional IRAs (individual retirement accounts), Roth IRAs, and education savings accounts provide incentives for people to save. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-79 Compare the tax advantages of traditional and Roth IRAs. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-80 Compare the tax advantages of different types of education savings accounts. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-81 Explain how an employer match of employee contributions to its retirement plan provides an incentive for employees to save. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-82 Compare the impact of employee “opt in” versus “opt out” of employer retirement plans and explain why it makes a difference. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-83 Describe the pros and cons of saving through an employer retirement plan as compared to saving outside of an employer plan. 12 Your Financial Future
STD-85 Assess the value of sharing financial goals and personal financial information with a partner before combining finances. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-86 Discuss how personal financial decisions can affect other people. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-87 Explain how external influences (e.g. peers, family, or social media) can impact personal savings decisions. 12 Managing Your Money
STD-88 Identify strategies to manage psychological and emotional obstacles to saving. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-89 Discuss strategies for avoiding personal triggers that result in deviating from a savings plan. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-90 Explain how the saving strategy “pay yourself first” can help people achieve their saving goals. 12 The Importance of Saving
STD-67 Explain why an increase in the number of people who want to borrow money might result in banks paying higher rates on deposits. 12 —
STD-68 Discuss types of market conditions that could result in financial institutions paying lower rates on savings accounts. 12 —
STD-70 Compare and contrast the features of mobile payment accounts, cryptocurrency accounts, and checking/savings accounts. 12 —
STD-72 Explain why savers typically earn a higher nominal rate of interest when inflation is high. 12 —
STD-73 Illustrate how inflation can reduce the purchasing power of savings over time if the nominal interest rate is lower than the inflation rate. 12 —
STD-76 Identify the state agency responsible for regulating financial institutions where they live. 12 —
STD-77 Explain the importance of solvency regulation for financial institutions. 12 —
STD-84 Explain the benefits of saving money in a health savings account for individuals with high-deductible health plans. 12 —

Kansas Financial Literacy FAQ

Kansas offers financial literacy as an elective, not a graduation requirement.

Kansas does not mandate financial literacy as a standalone course or state requirement. However, districts may integrate personal finance concepts into social studies, mathematics, or career/technical education curricula at their discretion.

Kansas's financial literacy requirements are established by K.S.A. 72-3236 and Kansas State Board of Education Graduation Requirement (November 10, 2022 Board Vote).

Requires the state board of education to develop state curriculum standards for personal financial literacy for all grade levels and to authorize and assist in implementing programs on teaching personal financial literacy. The Kansas State Board of Education voted 8-1 to make personal finance a half-credit (one semester) graduation requirement for high school students, beginning with the Class of 2027, to be completed in the junior or senior year.

Kansas has 206 financial literacy standards spanning 6 topic areas including Managing Credit, Investing, Spending, Saving, Earning Income.

Kansas's 206 standards are organized across 6 topics: Managing Credit, Investing, Spending, Saving, Earning Income, Managing Risk.

Kansas is an open-territory state where individual districts purchase curriculum directly.

Individual school districts make purchasing decisions for instructional materials. Districts may participate in cooperative purchasing agreements to leverage collective buying power, but adoption decisions remain decentralized.

iKnowFi Academy covers 143 of Kansas's 206 financial literacy standards (69% coverage) across 10 self-paced online courses.

Each course is aligned to Kansas's specific learning objectives, built on the Absorb LMS, and includes built-in assessments. Teachers assign them and students work independently.

Get Your Free Kansas Standards Alignment Report

See exactly how iKnowFi Academy maps to each of Kansas's 206 financial literacy standards — standard by standard, module by module.

  • 143 of 206 standards covered
  • 10 self-paced courses, ready to assign
  • Built-in assessments and progress tracking
  • No schedule changes needed — students work independently

Ready to see the full alignment?

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Last updated: March 2026