Arizona offers financial literacy as an elective course option for students. The state has defined 39 financial literacy standards spanning 9 topic areas that districts can incorporate into their course offerings.

Last updated: March 2026

39 Standards
9 Topic Areas
elective Mandate Status
9-12 Grade Levels

Does Arizona Require Financial Literacy Education?

Not as a requirement. Arizona offers financial literacy as an elective option, meaning districts may choose to include it but students are not required to complete it for graduation. Arizona does not have a mandatory statewide financial literacy requirement. However, financial education is encouraged through curriculum standards, and some districts have adopted financial literacy courses voluntarily.

Mandate Details

Status
elective
Standalone Course
No
Grade Levels
9-12
Legislation
SB 1184 (2019) / Laws 2019, Ch. 84 / A.R.S. § 15-701.01 (August 27, 2019)

Key Agencies

Arizona Department of Education and the Arts (ADEA)
State education agency providing curriculum standards and guidance; does not maintain adoption list but sets academic standards
Arizona Procurement Office
Oversees state procurement regulations and processes; vendors should understand ARS procurement requirements

What Are Arizona's Financial Literacy Standards?

Arizona has 39 financial literacy standards organized across 9 topic areas. These topics range from Employment & Benefits and Financial Decision-Making & Behavior to Banking & Payments, covering the full spectrum of personal finance education.

3 standards
Employment & Benefits
3 covered
4 standards
Financial Decision-Making & Behavior
4 covered
4 standards
Credit & Debt
4 covered
2 standards
Budgeting & Cash Flow
2 covered
3 standards
Investing
3 covered
3 standards
Saving
3 covered
1 standard
Insurance & Risk Management
1 covered
1 standard
Housing & Mortgages
1 covered
1 standard
Banking & Payments
1 covered

How Arizona School Districts Adopt Financial Literacy Curriculum

Arizona is an open territory state, meaning individual districts have the authority to select and purchase curriculum directly without state-level approval. Arizona does not maintain a state adoption list. School districts have autonomy to select and purchase educational materials independently, though the state provides guidance and resources.

Purchasing Process

Individual districts conduct their own procurement through RFPs, direct purchases, or cooperative purchasing agreements. The state does not mandate adoption through a centralized list.

Decision Level

Each Arizona school district makes independent decisions about educational materials selection and procurement. The state provides frameworks and standards but does not impose mandated adoptions.

Cooperative Purchasing Options

Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) Cooperative Purchasing Program National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA) U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance

Curriculum That Meets Arizona'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 Arizona's learning objectives. iKnowFi Academy covers 39 of 39 standards (100.0% coverage) across 10 courses.

Arizona Standards Coverage

100.0%
39 of 39 standards covered 10 courses

Aligned Courses

Borrowing Money

1 module · 1 standard aligned

Establishing Credit

2 modules · 2 standards aligned

Financial Building Blocks

2 modules · 7 standards aligned

Financial Preparation and Recovery

1 module · 1 standard aligned

Making Housing Decisions

1 module · 1 standard aligned

Managing Your Debt

1 module · 3 standards aligned

Managing Your Money

2 modules · 6 standards aligned

The Importance of Saving

2 modules · 4 standards aligned

Using Credit Cards

2 modules · 2 standards aligned

Your Financial Future

4 modules · 12 standards aligned

Arizona's Financial Literacy Standards & iKnowFi Academy Alignment

All 39 standards — 39 covered by iKnowFi Academy.

Employment & Benefits 3/3 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
QR.FR.1 Identify and research a career goal. Develop a plan and time table for achieving it including educational/training requirements, costs versus savings, income and debt. 9-12 Your Financial Future
9.A.b Monitors personal finance (paycheck, benefits, 401K) 9-12 Financial Building Blocks
9.A.g Demonstrates an understanding of personal finance, including select benefits 9-12 Your Financial Future
Financial Decision-Making & Behavior 4/4 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
HS.E1.1 Evaluate how and why people make choices to improve their economic well-being. 9-12 Managing Your Money
QR.FR.3 Use models to solve and communicate about contextual financial questions such as credit card debt, installment savings, amortization schedules, mortgage and other loan scenarios. 9-12 Financial Building Blocks
QR.FR.4 Identify and explain personal and societal consequences of financial decisions. 9-12 Managing Your Debt
9.A.a Manages personal finances responsibly 9-12 Financial Building Blocks
Credit & Debt 4/4 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
HS.E1.3 Evaluate the cost and benefits of using credit. 9-12 Using Credit Cards
QR.FR.3 Use models to solve and communicate about contextual financial questions such as credit card debt, installment savings, amortization schedules, mortgage and other loan scenarios. 9-12 Using Credit Cards
9.A.c Demonstrates an understanding of personal finance, including credit history 9-12 Establishing Credit
9.A.e Demonstrates an understanding of personal finance, including debt to income 9-12 Managing Your Debt
Budgeting & Cash Flow 2/2 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
HS.E1.2 Analyze the factors that influence how and why people make budgeting and saving choices. 9-12 Financial Building Blocks
QR.FR.2 Understand and apply strategies to monitor income and expenses, plan for spending, implement a diversified investment strategy, and save for future goals. 9-12 Financial Building Blocks
Investing 3/3 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
HS.E1.4 Compare the cost and benefits of several types of investments. 9-12 Your Financial Future
QR.FR.2 Understand and apply strategies to monitor income and expenses, plan for spending, implement a diversified investment strategy, and save for future goals. 9-12 Your Financial Future
9.A.f Demonstrates an understanding of personal finance, including interest 9-12 The Importance of Saving
Saving 3/3 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
HS.E1.2 Analyze the factors that influence how and why people make budgeting and saving choices. 9-12 The Importance of Saving
QR.FR.2 Understand and apply strategies to monitor income and expenses, plan for spending, implement a diversified investment strategy, and save for future goals. 9-12 The Importance of Saving
QR.FR.3 Use models to solve and communicate about contextual financial questions such as credit card debt, installment savings, amortization schedules, mortgage and other loan scenarios. 9-12 The Importance of Saving
Insurance & Risk Management 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
HS.E1.5 Evaluate the ways insurance may minimize personal financial risk. 9-12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
Housing & Mortgages 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
QR.FR.3 Use models to solve and communicate about contextual financial questions such as credit card debt, installment savings, amortization schedules, mortgage and other loan scenarios. 9-12 Making Housing Decisions
Banking & Payments 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.A.d Demonstrates an understanding of personal finance, including balances checkbook 9-12 Managing Your Money

Arizona Financial Literacy FAQ

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

Arizona does not have a mandatory statewide financial literacy requirement. However, financial education is encouraged through curriculum standards, and some districts have adopted financial literacy courses voluntarily.

Arizona's financial literacy requirement is established by SB 1184 (2019) / Laws 2019, Ch. 84 / A.R.S. § 15-701.01. Effective August 27, 2019.

Requires the State Board of Education to mandate at least one-half course credit in economics that includes financial literacy and personal financial management as a high school graduation requirement, and authorizes the Board to consider establishing a separate required personal finance course.

Arizona's financial literacy standards apply to grades 9-12. Standards are integrated into existing coursework.

Arizona has 39 financial literacy standards spanning 9 topic areas including Employment & Benefits, Financial Decision-Making & Behavior, Credit & Debt, Budgeting & Cash Flow, Investing.

Arizona's 39 standards are organized across 9 topics: Employment & Benefits, Financial Decision-Making & Behavior, Credit & Debt, Budgeting & Cash Flow, Investing, Saving, Insurance & Risk Management, Housing & Mortgages, Banking & Payments.

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

Individual districts conduct their own procurement through RFPs, direct purchases, or cooperative purchasing agreements. The state does not mandate adoption through a centralized list.

iKnowFi Academy covers 39 of Arizona's 39 financial literacy standards (100% coverage) across 10 self-paced online courses.

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

Get Your Free Arizona Standards Alignment Report

See exactly how iKnowFi Academy maps to each of Arizona's 39 financial literacy standards — standard by standard, module by module.

  • 39 of 39 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?

Free for Arizona school districts

Request Alignment Report Schedule a Demo
Last updated: March 2026