New Jersey requires financial literacy education for public school students, with mandates effective since 2014. The state has 113 financial literacy standards spanning 16 topic areas, covering grades 6-8, 9-12.

Last updated: March 2026

113 Standards
16 Topic Areas
required Mandate Status
6-8, 9-12 Grade Levels

Does New Jersey Require Financial Literacy Education?

Yes. New Jersey requires financial literacy instruction for public school students. New Jersey requires financial literacy education as part of the comprehensive Personal Financial Literacy Standards adopted in 2014. Schools must provide instruction in financial literacy concepts including budgeting, savings, credit, and consumer awareness.

Mandate Details

Status
required
Effective Year
2014
Standalone Course
No
Grade Levels
6-8, 9-12
Legislation
P.L. 2018, c.167 (A1414) / N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.34 (2019-01-03 (effective for 2019-20 school year))
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.1 (Graduation Requirements) (2010 (effective for 2010-11 ninth-grade class))

Key Agencies

New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE)
Develops state standards and curriculum frameworks; provides guidance on instructional materials but does not mandate adoption.
New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA)
Advocates for districts and operates purchasing cooperative; supports member procurement processes.
Educational Services Commission of New Jersey
Regional cooperatives that facilitate group purchasing and provide procurement support to member districts.
What this means for districts: Schools must adopt curriculum that aligns to New Jersey's 113 financial literacy standards. Districts need to verify that their chosen curriculum maps to these specific requirements.

What Are New Jersey's Financial Literacy Standards?

New Jersey has 113 financial literacy standards organized across 16 topic areas. These topics range from Credit & Debt and Financial Decision-Making & Behavior to Saving, covering the full spectrum of personal finance education.

15 standards
Credit & Debt
15 covered
12 standards
Financial Decision-Making & Behavior
8 covered 4 gaps
6 standards
Insurance & Risk Management
4 covered 2 gaps
4 standards
Budgeting & Cash Flow
4 covered
3 standards
Financial Systems & Regulation
1 covered 2 gaps
2 standards
Consumer Protection & Fraud
2 covered
2 standards
Banking & Payments
2 covered
1 standard
Postsecondary Financing
1 covered
2 standards
Taxes
2 covered
1 standard
Macroeconomics/Market Context
1 covered
1 standard
Retirement Planning
1 covered
1 standard
Investing
1 covered
2 standards
Identity Theft & Cyber Safety
2 covered
1 standard
Housing & Mortgages
1 covered
1 standard
Net Worth & Wealth Building
1 covered
1 standard
Saving
1 covered

How New Jersey School Districts Adopt Financial Literacy Curriculum

New Jersey is an open territory state, meaning individual districts have the authority to select and purchase curriculum directly without state-level approval. New Jersey does not have a mandatory state adoption list. Districts have significant autonomy in selecting educational materials and can choose from various vendors and publishers.

Purchasing Process

Districts primarily use RFP processes and direct purchasing, with access to cooperative purchasing agreements (NJSTART, education cooperatives). Some districts participate in volume purchasing through education service commissions.

Decision Level

Individual school districts make curriculum and materials selection decisions. The state provides standards and guidelines but does not mandate specific materials.

Cooperative Purchasing Options

NJSTART New Jersey Education Service Commissions (ESCs) New Jersey School Boards Association Purchasing Cooperative Sourcewell (formerly National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance) — available to NJ districts

Curriculum That Meets New Jersey'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 New Jersey's learning objectives. iKnowFi Academy covers 95 of 113 standards (84.1% coverage) across 9 courses.

New Jersey Standards Coverage

84.1%
95 of 113 standards covered 9 courses

Aligned Courses

Borrowing Money

2 modules · 9 standards aligned

Establishing Credit

3 modules · 17 standards aligned

Financial Building Blocks

1 module · 4 standards aligned

Financial Preparation and Recovery

3 modules · 21 standards aligned

Making Housing Decisions

2 modules · 4 standards aligned

Managing Your Debt

3 modules · 14 standards aligned

Managing Your Money

3 modules · 10 standards aligned

The Importance of Saving

2 modules · 3 standards aligned

Your Financial Future

4 modules · 13 standards aligned

New Jersey's Financial Literacy Standards & iKnowFi Academy Alignment

All 113 standards — 95 covered by iKnowFi Academy.

Credit & Debt 15/15 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.CDM.1 Identify the purposes, advantages, and disadvantages of debt. 12 Managing Your Debt
9.1.12.CDM.2 Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of various types of mortgages. 12 Making Housing Decisions
9.1.12.CDM.3 Determine ways to leverage debt beneficially. 12 Managing Your Debt
9.1.12.CDM.5 Identify the types of characteristics of predatory lending practices and the importance of collateral (e.g., payday loans, car title loans, high-risk mortgages). 12 Borrowing Money
9.1.12.CDM.6 Compute and assess the accumulating effect of interest paid over time when using a variety of sources of credit (e.g., student loans, credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, etc.). 12 Borrowing Money
9.1.12.CDM.8 Compare and compute interest and compound interest and develop an amortization table using business tools. 12 Borrowing Money
9.1.12.CDM.9 Summarize the causes and consequences of personal and corporate bankruptcy and evaluate the implications for self and others. 12 Managing Your Debt
9.1.12.CDM.10 Determine when credit counselling is necessary and evaluate the resources available to assist consumers who wish to use it. 12 Establishing Credit
9.1.12.CP.1 Summarize how one’s credit history can affect finances, including loan terms, employment, and qualifying for loans. 12 Establishing Credit
9.1.12.CP.2 Identify the advantages of maintaining a positive credit history. 12 Establishing Credit
9.1.12.CP.3 Summarize factors that affect a positive credit rating, including on-time payments, debt versus available credit, length of open credit, and how often you apply for credit. 12 Establishing Credit
9.1.12.CP.4 Identify the skill sets needed to build and maintain a positive credit profile. 12 Establishing Credit
9.1.12.CP.5 Create a plan to improve and maintain an excellent credit rating. 12 Establishing Credit
9.1.12.CP.7 Summarize factors that affect a particular credit scoring system. 12 Establishing Credit
9.1.12.CP.9 Analyze the information contained in a credit report, how scores are calculated and used, and explain the importance of disputing inaccurate entries. 12 Establishing Credit
Financial Decision-Making & Behavior 8/12 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.CFR.4 Demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationships among attitudes, assumptions, and patterns of behavior regarding money, saving, investing, and work across cultures. 12 Managing Your Money
9.1.12.EG.4 Explain the relationship between your personal financial situation and the broader economic and governmental policies. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
9.1.12.FP.1 Create a clear long-term financial plan to ensure its alignment with your values. 12 Managing Your Money
9.1.12.FP.2 Explain how an individual’s financial values and goals may change across a lifetime and the adjustments to the personal financial plan that may be needed. 12 Your Financial Future
9.1.12.FP.3 Relate the concept of delayed gratification (i.e., psychological distance) to meeting financial goals, investing and building wealth over time. 12 The Importance of Saving
9.1.12.FP.4 Identify how unconscious beliefs like "money scripts" (money avoidant, money worship, money status, money vigilant) influence financial decision-making. 12 Managing Your Money
9.1.12.FP.7 Determine how multiple sources of objective, accurate and current financial information affect the prioritization of financial decisions (e.g., print information, prospectus, certified financial planners, internet, sales representatives, etc.). 12 Your Financial Future
9.1.12.PB.2 Prioritize financial decisions by considering alternatives and possible consequences. 12 Managing Your Money
9.1.12.CFR.1 Compare and contrast the role of philanthropy, volunteer service, and charities in community development and quality of life in a variety of cultures. 12 —
9.1.12.CFR.2 Summarize causes important to you and compare organizations you seek to support to other organizations with similar missions. 12 —
9.1.12.FP.5 Evaluate how behavioral bias (e.g., overconfidence, confirmation, recency, loss aversion, etc.) affects decision-making. 12 —
9.1.12.FP.6 Evaluate the relationship of familial patterns, cultural traditions, and historical influences on financial practice. 12 —
Insurance & Risk Management 4/6 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.CFR.5 Summarize the purpose and importance of estate planning documents (e.g., will, durable power of attorney, living will, health care proxy, etc.). 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
9.1.12.RM.3 Compare the cost of various types of insurance (e.g., life, homeowners, motor vehicle) for the same product or service, strategies to lower costs, and the process for filing an insurance claim. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
9.1.12.RM.6 Differentiate the costs benefits and features (e.g., riders, deductibles, umbrella policies) of renter’s and homeowner’s insurance. 12 Making Housing Decisions
9.1.12.RM.7 Evaluate individual and family needs for insurance protection using opportunity-cost analysis to determine if the amount of protection is adequate or over-insured. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
9.1.12.RM.4 Determine when and why it may be appropriate for the government to provide insurance coverage rather than private industry. 12 —
9.1.12.RM.5 Explain what self-insuring is and determine when it is appropriate. 12 —
Budgeting & Cash Flow 4/4 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.PB.3 Design a personal budget that will help you reach your long-term and short-term financial goals. 12 Financial Building Blocks
9.1.12.PB.4 Explain how you would revise your budget to accommodate changing circumstances. 12 Financial Building Blocks
9.1.12.PB.5 Analyze how changes in taxes, inflation, and personal circumstances can affect a personal budget. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
9.1.12.PB.6 Describe and calculate interest and fees that are applied to various forms of spending, debt and saving. 12 Borrowing Money
Financial Systems & Regulation 1/3 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.CFR.6 Identify and explain the consequences of breaking federal and/or state employment or financial laws. 12 Managing Your Debt
9.1.12.CFR.3 Research companies with corporate governance policies supporting the common good and human rights. 12 —
9.1.12.EG.3 Explain how individuals and businesses influence government policies. 12 —
Consumer Protection & Fraud 2/2 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.EG.6 Analyze the rights and responsibilities of buyers and sellers under consumer protection laws. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
9.1.12.FI.4 Research benefits and drawbacks of products offered by financial and non-financial companies (e.g., banks, credit unions, check-cashing stores, product warranty insurance). 12 Managing Your Money
Banking & Payments 2/2 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.FI.2 Explain ways to manage your accounts that maximize benefits and provide you with the utmost protection. 12 Managing Your Money
9.1.12.FI.3 Develop a plan that uses the services of various financial institutions to prepare for long term personal and family goals (e.g., college, retirement). 12 Your Financial Future
Postsecondary Financing 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.CDM.4 Identify issues associated with student loan debt, requirements for repayment, and consequences of failure to repay student loan debt. 12 Managing Your Debt
Taxes 2/2 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.EG.1 Review the tax rates on different sources of income and on different types of products and services purchased. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
9.1.12.EG.2 Explain why various forms of income are taxed differently. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
Macroeconomics/Market Context 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.EG.5 Relate a country’s economic system of production and consumption to building personal wealth, the mindset of social comparison, and achieving societal responsibilities. 12 Your Financial Future
Retirement Planning 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.RM.1 Describe the importance of various sources of income in retirement, including Social Security, employer-sponsored retirement savings plans, and personal investments. 12 Your Financial Future
Investing 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.RM.2 Identify types of investments appropriate for different objectives such as liquidity, income, and growth. 12 Your Financial Future
Identity Theft & Cyber Safety 2/2 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.CP.8 Identify different ways you can protect your credit. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
9.1.12.FI.1 Identify ways to protect yourself from identity theft. 12 Financial Preparation and Recovery
Housing & Mortgages 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.CDM.7 Calculate a mortgage payment based on type of loan, down payment, credit score, and loan interest rate. 12 Making Housing Decisions
Net Worth & Wealth Building 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.CP.6 Explain the effect of debt on a person’s net worth. 12 Your Financial Future
Saving 1/1 covered
ID Standard Grade iKnowFi Academy Course
9.1.12.PB.1 Explain the difference between saving and investing. 12 The Importance of Saving

New Jersey Financial Literacy FAQ

Yes. New Jersey requires financial literacy instruction, effective since 2014.

New Jersey requires financial literacy education as part of the comprehensive Personal Financial Literacy Standards adopted in 2014. Schools must provide instruction in financial literacy concepts including budgeting, savings, credit, and consumer awareness.

New Jersey's financial literacy requirements are established by P.L. 2018, c.167 (A1414) / N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.34 and N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.1 (Graduation Requirements).

Requires school districts to incorporate financial literacy instruction in each of grades 6 through 8, effective for the 2019-2020 school year. Requires high school students to complete 2.5 credits in Financial, Economic, Business, and Entrepreneurial Literacy for graduation (existing administrative regulation, effective since the 2010-11 ninth-grade class).

New Jersey's financial literacy standards apply to grades 6-8, 9-12. Standards are integrated into existing coursework.

New Jersey has 113 financial literacy standards spanning 16 topic areas including Credit & Debt, Financial Decision-Making & Behavior, Insurance & Risk Management, Budgeting & Cash Flow, Consumer Protection & Fraud.

New Jersey's 113 standards are organized across 16 topics: Credit & Debt, Financial Decision-Making & Behavior, Insurance & Risk Management, Budgeting & Cash Flow, Consumer Protection & Fraud, Banking & Payments, Postsecondary Financing, Taxes, Macroeconomics/Market Context, Retirement Planning, Investing, Identity Theft & Cyber Safety, Financial Systems & Regulation, Housing & Mortgages, Net Worth & Wealth Building, Saving.

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

Districts primarily use RFP processes and direct purchasing, with access to cooperative purchasing agreements (NJSTART, education cooperatives). Some districts participate in volume purchasing through education service commissions.

iKnowFi Academy covers 95 of New Jersey's 113 financial literacy standards (84% coverage) across 9 self-paced online courses.

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

Get Your Free New Jersey Standards Alignment Report

See exactly how iKnowFi Academy maps to each of New Jersey's 113 financial literacy standards — standard by standard, module by module.

  • 95 of 113 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?

Free for New Jersey school districts

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Last updated: March 2026