This course introduces Open Doors students to essential financial knowledge and skills for making informed decisions in personal, academic, and workplace contexts. Students learn how to manage income, create and maintain a budget, understand credit and debt, evaluate financial products, and plan for short‑ and long‑term financial goals. Emphasis is placed on real‑world application, consumer awareness, and the development of financial confidence among adult learners. This course will only earn high school credit and may be repeated as needed.
Prerequisites
None
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
· Analyze personal income sources and calculate net income by applying federal and state tax withholdings, payroll deductions, and benefits to determine take‑home pay.
· Develop a realistic monthly budget that incorporates fixed and variable expenses, savings goals, and emergency planning, and evaluate the budget’s sustainability over time.
· Compare financial products and services (e.g., checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, loans) by assessing fees, interest rates, terms, and consumer protections to make informed financial decisions.
· Interpret credit reports and credit scores by identifying key components, evaluating factors that influence creditworthiness, and outlining strategies to build or repair credit.
· Demonstrate the ability to make informed financial decisions by evaluating real‑world scenarios involving borrowing, saving, investing, and managing debt, and selecting the option that best aligns with personal financial goals.
IO 2. Students will be able to reason mathematically.