Vermont integrates financial literacy into existing courses rather than requiring a standalone class. The state has 63 financial literacy standards across 9 topic areas that are embedded within subjects like economics and social studies.
Last updated: March 2026
Does Vermont Require Financial Literacy Education?
Yes, through integration. Vermont requires financial literacy concepts to be taught within existing courses rather than as a standalone class. Vermont requires personal financial literacy standards to be integrated into social studies and mathematics curricula at multiple grade levels. There is no requirement for a standalone course, but financial literacy competencies are embedded in state education standards.
Mandate Details
- Status
- integrated
- Standalone Course
- No
- Grade Levels
- 6-8, 9-12
- Legislation
- Act 73 of 2025 (H.454) (2025 (graduation standards under development, target effective 2027-2028))
Key Agencies
What Are Vermont's Financial Literacy Standards?
Vermont has 63 financial literacy standards organized across 10 topic areas. These topics range from Saving & Investing and Credit & Debt Management to Financial Planning & Goal Setting, covering the full spectrum of personal finance education.
How Vermont School Districts Adopt Financial Literacy Curriculum
Vermont is an open territory state, meaning individual districts have the authority to select and purchase curriculum directly without state-level approval. Vermont does not maintain a state-level adoption list. Districts have autonomy to select educational materials based on their needs.
Purchasing Process
Individual school districts make purchasing decisions through their own processes, often using RFPs or direct purchasing. The state does not mandate a centralized adoption process.
Decision Level
Educational material selection and procurement decisions are made at the district level by local school boards and administrators. The state provides guidance and standards but does not impose material selections.
Cooperative Purchasing Options
Curriculum That Meets Vermont'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 Vermont's learning objectives. iKnowFi Academy covers 48 of 63 standards (76.2% coverage) across 9 courses.
Vermont Standards Coverage
76.2%Aligned Courses
Borrowing Money
Establishing Credit
Financial Building Blocks
Financial Preparation and Recovery
Making Housing Decisions
Managing Your Debt
Managing Your Money
The Importance of Saving
Your Financial Future
Vermont's Financial Literacy Standards & iKnowFi Academy Alignment
All 63 standards — 48 covered by iKnowFi Academy.
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saving 12-1 | 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. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| Saving 12-4 | Inflation can erode the value of savings if the interest rate earned on a savings account is less than the inflation rate. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| Saving 12-6 | Tax policies that allow people to save pretax earnings or to reduce or defer taxes on interest earned provide incentives for people to save. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Saving 12-9 | 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. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| Investing 12-1 | A person's investment risk tolerance depends on factors such as personality, financial resources, investment experiences, and life circumstances. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Investing 12-2 | 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. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Investing 12-3 | Investors expect to earn higher rates of return when they invest in riskier assets. Because inflation reduces purchasing power over time, the real return on a financial asset is lower than its nominal return. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Investing 12-4 | The prices of financial assets change in response to market conditions, interest rates, company performance, new information, and investor demand. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Investing 12-5 | When making diversification and asset allocation decisions, investors consider their risk tolerance, goals, and investing time horizon. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Investing 12-6 | When making diversification and asset allocation decisions, investors consider their risk tolerance, goals, and investing time horizon. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Investing 12-7 | Expenses of buying, selling, and holding financial assets decrease the rate of return from an investment. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Investing 12-14 | Criteria for selecting financial professionals for investment advice include licensing, certifications, education, experience, and cost. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Investing 12-12 | Federal regulation of financial markets is designed to ensure that investors have access to accurate information about potential investments and are protected from fraud. | 9-12 | — |
| Investing 12-13 | Investors often compare the performance of their investments against a benchmark, such as a diversified stock or bond index. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit 12-1 | Borrowers can compare the cost of credit using the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and other terms in the loan or credit card contract. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| Credit 12-2 | Loans that are secured by collateral have lower interest rates than unsecured loans because they are less risky to lenders. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| Credit 12-3 | Monthly mortgage payments vary depending on the amount borrowed, the repayment period, and the interest rate, which can be fixed or adjustable. | 9-12 | Making Housing Decisions |
| Credit 12-5 | Federal student loans have lower rates and more favorable repayment terms than private student loans, and may be subsidized. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Credit 12-6 | Down payments reduce the amount needed to borrow. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| Credit 12-7 | Lenders assess creditworthiness of potential borrowers by consulting credit reports compiled by credit bureaus. | 9-12 | Establishing Credit |
| Credit 12-8 | A credit score is a numeric rating that assesses a person's credit risk based on information in their credit report. | 9-12 | Establishing Credit |
| Credit 12-9 | Credit reports and credit scores may be requested and used by entities other than lenders. | 9-12 | Establishing Credit |
| Credit 12-10 | Borrowers who face negative consequences because they are unable to repay their debts may be able to seek debt management assistance. | 9-12 | Managing Your Debt |
| Credit 12-11 | In extreme cases, bankruptcy may be an option for people who are unable to repay their debts. | 9-12 | Managing Your Debt |
| Credit 12-13 | Alternative financial services, such as payday loans, check-cashing services, pawnshops, and instant tax refunds, provide easy access to credit, often at relatively high cost. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| MR 12-1 | 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 minimize future financial loss. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| MR 12-2 | 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. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| MR 12-3 | Some types of insurance coverage are mandatory. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| MR 12-5 | 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. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| MR 12-7 | 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. | 9-12 | Making Housing Decisions |
| MR 12-9 | Unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare are public insurance programs that protect individuals from economic hardship caused by certain risks. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| MR 12-4 | 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. | 9-12 | — |
| MR 12-6 | 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. | 9-12 | — |
| MR 12-8 | 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. | 9-12 | — |
| MR 12-10 | 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. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spending 12-2 | 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. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| Spending 12-8 | 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. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| Credit 12-12 | Consumer credit protection laws govern disclosure of credit terms, discrimination in borrowing, and debt collection practices. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| MR 12-11 | Online transactions and failure to safeguard personal documents can make consumers vulnerable to privacy infringement, identity theft, and fraud. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| Spending 12-3 | 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. | 9-12 | — |
| Spending 12-4 | Consumers may be influenced by how prices of goods and services are advertised, and whether prices are fixed or negotiable. | 9-12 | — |
| Spending 12-5 | Consumers incur costs and realize benefits when searching for information related to the purchase of goods and services. | 9-12 | — |
| MR 12-12 | Extended warranties and service contracts are like an insurance policy. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| EI 12-1 | 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. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| EI 12-6 | Federal, state, and local taxes fund government-provided goods, services, and transfer payments to individuals. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| EI 12-8 | 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. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| EI 12-9 | Tax deductions and credits reduce income tax liability. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| EI 12-2 | In addition to wages and paid benefits, employees may also value intangible (non-cash) benefits, such as good working conditions, flexible work hours, telecommuting privileges, and career advancement potential. | 9-12 | — |
| EI 12-11 | Owning a small business can be a person's primary career or can supplement income from other sources. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| EI 12-3 | 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. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| EI 12-4 | Employers generally pay higher wages or salaries to more educated, skilled, and productive workers than to less educated, skilled, and productive workers. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Credit 12-4 | Post-secondary education is often financed by students and families/caregivers through a combination of scholarships, grants, student loans, work-study, and savings. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| EI 12-5 | Changes in economic conditions, technology, or the labor market can cause changes in income, career opportunities, or employment status. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spending 12-1 | A budget helps people achieve their financial goals by allocating income to necessary and desired spending, saving, and philanthropy. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| Spending 12-6 | Housing decisions depend on individual preferences, circumstances, and costs, and can impact personal satisfaction and financial well-being. | 9-12 | Making Housing Decisions |
| Spending 12-9 | Having an organized system for keeping track of spending, saving, and investing makes it easier to make financial decisions. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| Spending 12-7 | People donate money, items, or time to charitable and non-profit organizations because they value the services provided by the organization and/or gain satisfaction from giving. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saving 12-2 | Deposit account interest rates and fees vary between financial institutions and depend on market conditions and competition. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| Saving 12-3 | Unless offered by insured financial institutions, mobile payment accounts and cryptocurrency accounts are not federally insured and usually do not pay interest to depositors. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| Saving 12-5 | 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. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| EI 12-10 | Retirement income typically comes from some combination of continued employment earnings, Social Security, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and personal investments. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| Saving 12-7 | Employer defined contribution retirement plans and health savings accounts can provide incentives for employees to save. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saving 12-8 | 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. | 9-12 | — |
Vermont Financial Literacy FAQ
Vermont integrates financial literacy into existing courses rather than requiring a standalone class.
Vermont requires personal financial literacy standards to be integrated into social studies and mathematics curricula at multiple grade levels. There is no requirement for a standalone course, but financial literacy competencies are embedded in state education standards.
Vermont's financial literacy requirement is established by Act 73 of 2025 (H.454). Effective 2025 (graduation standards under development, target effective 2027-2028).
Vermont's education transformation act directs the Secretary of Education and the State Board of Education to develop statewide graduation requirements by July 1, 2027, effective for the 2027-2028 school year; the Secretary has recommended a half-credit standalone personal finance course requirement, but this has not yet been formally adopted as a mandate.
Vermont's financial literacy standards apply to grades 6-8, 9-12. Standards are integrated into existing coursework.
Vermont has 63 financial literacy standards spanning 9 topic areas including Saving & Investing, Credit & Debt Management, Insurance & Risk Management, Income & Taxes, Consumer Skills & Protection.
Vermont's 63 standards are organized across 9 topics: Saving & Investing, Credit & Debt Management, Insurance & Risk Management, Income & Taxes, Consumer Skills & Protection, Education & Career Planning, Budgeting & Money Management, Banking & Financial Services, Retirement & Estate Planning.
Vermont is an open-territory state where individual districts purchase curriculum directly.
Individual school districts make purchasing decisions through their own processes, often using RFPs or direct purchasing. The state does not mandate a centralized adoption process.
iKnowFi Academy covers 48 of Vermont's 63 financial literacy standards (76% coverage) across 9 self-paced online courses.
Each course is aligned to Vermont's specific learning objectives, built on the Absorb LMS, and includes built-in assessments. Teachers assign them and students work independently.
Get Your Free Vermont Standards Alignment Report
See exactly how iKnowFi Academy maps to each of Vermont's 63 financial literacy standards — standard by standard, module by module.
- 48 of 63 standards covered
- 9 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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