Missouri requires financial literacy education for public school students. The state has 73 financial literacy standards spanning 6 topic areas, covering grades 9-12.
Last updated: March 2026
Does Missouri Require Financial Literacy Education?
Yes. Missouri requires financial literacy instruction for public school students. Missouri requires financial literacy education as part of the high school graduation requirements. Students must complete instruction in personal finance topics including budgeting, credit, and financial decision-making, typically integrated into social studies or as a standalone course.
Mandate Details
- Status
- required
- Standalone Course
- No
- Grade Levels
- 9-12
- Legislation
- Missouri State Board of Education Graduation Requirements (5 CSR 20-100.220), effective for Class of 2010 (2005 (effective Class of 2010))
Key Agencies
What Are Missouri's Financial Literacy Standards?
Missouri has 73 financial literacy standards organized across 6 topic areas. These topics range from Saving & Investing and Credit & Debt to Insurance & Risk Management, covering the full spectrum of personal finance education.
How Missouri School Districts Adopt Financial Literacy Curriculum
Missouri is an open territory state, meaning individual districts have the authority to select and purchase curriculum directly without state-level approval. Missouri does not have a state-mandated textbook adoption list. Districts have autonomy to select and purchase educational materials based on their individual needs and budgets.
Purchasing Process
Individual school districts make independent purchasing decisions for educational materials. Districts may use RFPs, cooperative purchasing agreements, or direct vendor engagement based on their procurement policies.
Decision Level
School districts hold primary decision-making authority for selecting and adopting educational materials. The state provides curriculum frameworks and standards but does not mandate specific materials.
Cooperative Purchasing Options
Curriculum That Meets Missouri'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 Missouri's learning objectives. iKnowFi Academy covers 66 of 73 standards (90.4% coverage) across 10 courses.
Missouri Standards Coverage
90.4%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
Using Credit Cards
Your Financial Future
Missouri's Financial Literacy Standards & iKnowFi Academy Alignment
All 73 standards — 66 covered by iKnowFi Academy.
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| PF.3.M | Compare the services, service fees and requirements of various financial institutions such as banks, savings and loans, credit unions and virtual banks. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.3.O | Analyze the costs and benefits of using or not using financial institutions and virtual exchanges. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.4.A | Identify short, medium and long-term savings goals including saving for high value purchases, postsecondary education/training and retirement. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| PF.4.B | Develop a savings plan. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| PF.4.C | Explain the importance of a rainy day fund for unexpected expenses. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| PF.4.D | Compare retirement savings options. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.4.E | Compare simple and compound interest. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| PF.4.F | Explain how the time value of money, i.e. money in hand today, is worth more than money promised in the future, influences financial decision making. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| PF.4.G | Identify saving instruments such as certificates of deposit and savings accounts. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| PF.4.H | Compare the liquidity, interest payment or penalty of various savings instruments. | 9-12 | The Importance of Saving |
| PF.7.A | Compare various financial assets for their risk and rewards such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate and commodities. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.7.B | Explain the impact of capital gains, dividends, risk and stock value on corporate stock ownership. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.7.D | Explain how the rate of return earned from investments will vary according to the amount of risk. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.7.F | Explain why an investment with greater risk, such as a penny stock, will commonly have a lower market price, but an uncertain rate of return. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.7.G | Explain the risks and rewards of short term and long-term investments. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.7.H | Describe how diversification can lower investment risk. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.7.C | Explain how the price of a financial asset is determined by the interaction of buyers and sellers in a financial market. | 9-12 | — |
| PF.7.E | Explain how the rates of return on financial assets are influenced by buyers and sellers in financial markets. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| PF.5.A | Analyze the difference between a credit and a debit account. | 9-12 | Using Credit Cards |
| PF.5.B | Compare sources of consumer credit such as credit cards, consumer loans, rent-to own, title and payday loans. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| PF.5.C | Evaluate the options for financing higher education. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.5.D | Analyze various terms and conditions of credit cards and consumer loans. | 9-12 | Using Credit Cards |
| PF.5.E | Explain the purpose, functions and costs of a mortgage. | 9-12 | Making Housing Decisions |
| PF.5.F | Compare the cost of credit between financial institutions based on the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), initial fees charged and fees for late or missed payment. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| PF.5.G | Calculate the total purchase price of a good or service including interest paid. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| PF.5.H | Explain the relationship between risk and interest including credit worthiness and down payment. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| PF.5.I | Differentiate between secured and unsecured loans. | 9-12 | Borrowing Money |
| PF.5.J | Evaluate factors that affect creditworthiness including paying on time and payment history. | 9-12 | Establishing Credit |
| PF.5.K | Explain the purpose and components of credit records and credit history as provided by credit bureaus. | 9-12 | Establishing Credit |
| PF.5.L | Identify ways to avoid and/or correct credit problems. | 9-12 | Managing Your Debt |
| PF.5.M | Analyze why credit scores may be used by entities such as employers, landlords and insurance companies. | 9-12 | Establishing Credit |
| PF.5.N | Evaluate a credit report to verify accuracy. | 9-12 | Establishing Credit |
| PF.5.O | Explain the importance of annually verifying one's credit report. | 9-12 | Establishing Credit |
| PF.5.Q | Explain responsibilities associated with the use of credit. | 9-12 | Using Credit Cards |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| PF.3.F | Conduct research on product options to plan future purchases such as phone, car, home or vacation. | 9-12 | Making Housing Decisions |
| PF.3.G | Evaluate product information for price, quality, service and features. | 9-12 | Using Credit Cards |
| PF.3.H | Describe effective responses to deceptive or fraudulent sales practices. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| PF.3.I | Identify payment methods. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.3.J | Analyze the costs and benefits of different payment options. | 9-12 | Using Credit Cards |
| PF.3.K | Evaluate substitutes when the price of goods or services exceeds your budget. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.3.L | Compare the features, durability and maintenance costs of goods. | 9-12 | Making Housing Decisions |
| PF.3.P | Explain the importance of FDIC, NCUA and other security regulations to protect one's wealth in financial institutions. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.5.P | Explain the value of consumer credit protection laws. | 9-12 | Using Credit Cards |
| PF.6.F | Analyze federal and state regulations which provide some remedies and assistance for identity theft. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| PF.6.G | Analyze how individuals can protect themselves from others misusing personal information and from identity theft while online. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| PF.6.H | Discuss current ways to counter cyber-attacks and protect personal information. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| PF.1.A | Evaluate the role of choice in decision making. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.1.B | Apply a rational decision making process to satisfy wants. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.1.C | Explain how today's choices have future consequences. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.1.D | Explain the causal relationship between choice and opportunity cost. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.1.E | Analyze how choices can result in unintended consequences. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.3.A | Differentiate between income and expenses. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| PF.3.B | Analyze spending habits to recognize current spending and saving trends. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| PF.3.C | Create a budget that includes savings goals, emergency funds, fixed expenses and variable expenses. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| PF.3.E | Prioritize expenses and payment due dates. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| PF.3.N | Calculate an account balance by recording deposits, withdrawals and debit transactions. | 9-12 | Managing Your Money |
| PF.3.D | Explain how budgeting for charitable giving may have tax benefits. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| PF.2.A | Evaluate how career choices impact income and quality of life. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.2.B | Analyze the relationship between education, skill development and earning potential. | 9-12 | Your Financial Future |
| PF.2.C | Describe how wages and salaries are determined in labor markets. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| PF.2.F | Examine how workers are paid through wages, salaries and commissions. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| PF.2.H | Identify sources for earning income in addition to wages and salaries such as rent, interest, gifts, dividends, profits and capital gains. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| PF.2.I | Compare gross and net income. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| PF.2.J | Explain the purpose of standard deductions such as income taxes, social security (FICA), Medicare, deductions for health care and retirement savings plans. | 9-12 | Financial Building Blocks |
| PF.2.K | Explain how taxes provide public goods and services. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| PF.2.D | Analyze how changes in economic conditions and/or in labor markets can cause changes in a person's income or employment status. | 9-12 | — |
| PF.2.E | Describe how entrepreneurs see problems as opportunities for creating new or innovative goods or services. | 9-12 | — |
| PF.2.G | Analyze why benefits such as health insurance, paid vacation, retirement plan, family leave, tuition reimbursement and flexible scheduling are considered forms of compensation. | 9-12 | — |
| ID | Standard | Grade | iKnowFi Academy Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| PF.6.A | Analyze the personal financial risks that can occur when unexpected events damage health, home, property, wealth or future opportunities. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| PF.6.B | Explain how and why insurance companies create policies and determine premiums. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| PF.6.C | Analyze factors people use to choose insurance coverage. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| PF.6.D | Explain how personal behavior and risk impact insurance premiums. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
| PF.6.E | Analyze health insurance options to provide funds in the event of illness and/or to pay for the cost of preventive care. | 9-12 | Financial Preparation and Recovery |
Missouri Financial Literacy FAQ
Yes. Missouri requires financial literacy instruction.
Missouri requires financial literacy education as part of the high school graduation requirements. Students must complete instruction in personal finance topics including budgeting, credit, and financial decision-making, typically integrated into social studies or as a standalone course.
Missouri's financial literacy requirement is established by Missouri State Board of Education Graduation Requirements (5 CSR 20-100.220), effective for Class of 2010. Effective 2005 (effective Class of 2010).
Requires all Missouri high school students to complete a half-credit standalone personal finance course for graduation; the requirement was adopted by the State Board of Education in 2005 and took effect for the graduating class of 2010.
Missouri's financial literacy standards apply to grades 9-12. Standards are integrated into existing coursework.
Missouri has 73 financial literacy standards spanning 6 topic areas including Saving & Investing, Credit & Debt, Consumer Skills & Protection, Financial Planning & Budgeting, Earning & Income.
Missouri's 73 standards are organized across 6 topics: Saving & Investing, Credit & Debt, Consumer Skills & Protection, Financial Planning & Budgeting, Earning & Income, Insurance & Risk Management.
Missouri is an open-territory state where individual districts purchase curriculum directly.
Individual school districts make independent purchasing decisions for educational materials. Districts may use RFPs, cooperative purchasing agreements, or direct vendor engagement based on their procurement policies.
iKnowFi Academy covers 66 of Missouri's 73 financial literacy standards (90% coverage) across 10 self-paced online courses.
Each course is aligned to Missouri's specific learning objectives, built on the Absorb LMS, and includes built-in assessments. Teachers assign them and students work independently.
Get Your Free Missouri Standards Alignment Report
See exactly how iKnowFi Academy maps to each of Missouri's 73 financial literacy standards — standard by standard, module by module.
- 66 of 73 standards covered
- 10 self-paced courses, ready to assign
- Built-in assessments and progress tracking
- No schedule changes needed — students work independently
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