D O L L A R W I $ E

Financial Education Curriculum MatrixThe United States Conference of Mayors’

Council for the New American City and the

Dollar Wi$e Campaign have compiled this Financial

Education Curriculum Matrix for use by cities in

implementing local financial literacy campaigns. The

purpose of this Matrix is to array financial education

materials that meet a number of criteria established by the

Dollar Wi$e Advisory Board. The Advisory Board wanted

to provide, in a single document, the best financial

education material that is currently available, and is both

free to the public and easily accessible. The Matrix is a

guide to Mayors who are seeking comprehensive financial

education materials as well as information on specific

topics of interest to local organizations and citizens.

The Matrix is comprised of “Generally

Recommended Curricula” that covers a variety of financial

education topics. The Matrix also provides information on

topical areas such as: banking/budgeting/saving, credit

management, homeownership, and retirement planning.

Additional sections of the Matrix are intended to guide the

mayor to curricula and other information from national

organizations engaged in financial literacy, clearinghouses

and other sources.

The Advisory Board appointed a panel of

professionals with financial literacy expertise and

practitioner experience to compile this Matrix. The panel

was charged with identifying, reviewing and

recommending general financial literacy curricula and

information on the topical areas of interest. The

Advisory Board directed the panel to include only those

materials that have been demonstrated to be widely

accepted as standards in the field, are easily accessible,

and are free or available for a nominal cost. The

Advisory Board also directed the panel to include a

variety of cross-media materials, such as availability in

print, on CDs, and online.

This Matrix represents the first listing of materials

that satisfy the Advisory Board’s multiple criteria for

inclusion. It is anticipated that the Matrix will be updated

and modified periodically as local elected officials gain

experience in using the materials over time.

This Matrix lists

financial literacy

resources that are

widely accepted

standards in the

field, are easily

accessible, and are

free or available for a

nominal cost.

The Advisory Board is pleased to acknowledge the

participation in the expert panel by Susan Cornell, Vice

President of Countrywide, and Kelvin E. Boston, President

of Boston Media, LLC, and host of the Moneywise PBS series.

Their efforts have resulted in the development of this

Dollar Wi$e Financial Education Curriculum Matrix.

The Dollar Wi$e Campaign also distributes a

financial education Resource Book. The Resource Book lists

financial education materials such as booklets and

brochures, information on CDs, and other media that is

generally available to citizens and organizations. Both the

Matrix and the Resource Book are available at

www.dollarwiseonline.org.

Low– to moderate-income General consumers Minorities Adults College students High school students Banking/budgeting/savings Credit management Homeownership Retirement planning Train-the-trainer

TARGET AUDIENCE

CURRICULUM AREA

Credit Booster ESP www.mindyourfinances.com/products/credit-booster

INCHARGE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | Credit Booster is designed to lead the consumer through a step-by-step process to enhance usage of credit and management of debt.

The chapters in Credit Booster include:

1 Basics of Improving Your Credit 2 Where Do You Stand? 3 Where Does All the Money Go? 4 Making Sense of Your Financial Situation 5 Understanding Your Credit Report and Your Credit 6 Understanding Your Credit Score 7 Setting Your Financial Goals 8 Getting Your Financial House in Order through Budgeting

09 Removing Mistakes from Your Credit Report 10 Improving Your Credit Score 11 Resolving Severe Credit Problems on Your Own 12 Getting Help for Resolving Severe Debt Problems 13 Building Credit When You Do Not Have Any 14 Building Credit after Divorce 15 Rebuilding Credit after Bankruptcy

Credit Compass Classroom Edition www.creditcompass.com

INCHARGE EDUCATION FOUNDATION| Credit Compass (CD-ROM and Web site version) is divided into seven major topics:

These learning activities are tailored into a Teacher’s Guide and a Student Workbook to fit both these seven major topics and the specific needs and interests of students in grades 6-10, so they can better understand and learn the skills they need to become responsible, savvy consumers.

Clarifying Goals Organizing Financial Records Monitoring Debt-to-Income Ratio and Credit Use Preparing a Spending Plan

Asking for Credit Reports Saving Money Studying and Learning About Consumer Credit Issues

CreditSmart ESP www.freddiemac.com/creditsmart FREDDIE MAC | Designed to help users obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to manage their finances and positively impact their credit.

CreditSmart is being distributed through organizations committed to helping underserved communities, including the National Urban League and the Rainbow/PUSH “1000 Churches Connected” initiative.

CreditSmart is available in English and Spanish and includes eleven different modules, including:

1 Your Credit and Why It Is Important 2 Managing Your Money 3 Goal Setting 4 Banking Services, An Important Step

5 Establishing and Maintaining Credit 6 Understanding Credit Scoring 7 Thinking Like A Lender 8 Avoiding Credit Traps

09 Restoring Your Credit 10 Planning For Your Future 11 Becoming A Homeowner

Freddie Mac Homebuyer Resources www.freddiemac.com/homeownership Spanish www.freddiemac.com/corporate/buyown/spanish/preparing/right_for_you

FREDDIE MAC | These credit, mortgage finance, and home-buying resources are designed to assist prospective homebuyers and existing homeowners. Online only.

High School Financial Planning Program www.nefe.org/hsfppportal NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION | Created in partnership with InCharge, the HSFPP uses contemporary materials to teach the basics of personal finance to young people while they are developing habits and attitudes about money that will influence them for the rest of their lives. It is based on the philosophy that learning about money is as important as earning it—and that effective money management results from a disciplined behavior, which is most easily mastered if learned early in life.

Has Train-the-Trainer and Train-the-Teacher components as well as teacher in-classroom instruction.

Also provides a Web-based training as a course aimed at teachers and other who work with young people in an informal setting. It provides information on personal finance and features a myriad of suggestions and examples that can be applied to classroom exercises and discussions.

Homeownership Basics Online www.hud.gov/webcasts/archives/homeforall.cfm U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT | Provides prospective homeowners with modules that explain the basics of buying a home, and what is expected of a buyer. Online only.

Investing for Success ESP www.investingforsuccess.org | Spanish www.invertirconexito.org INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE | This Web course is an educational program jointly sponsored by the Hispanic College Fund, Inc. (HCF) and the Investment Company Institute Education Foundation (ICIEF).

This program responds to research showing that, compared to other groups with similar incomes, Hispanics are the least likely to invest. HCF, ICIEF, and the mutual fund industry have joined forces to help Latinos become knowledgeable about opportunities to build wealth and to encourage long-term financial planning to secure your children's education and your own retirement.

Late Savers Guidebook www.nefe.org/latesavers/index.html

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION | A guide to help late savers prepare for retirement.

Mind Your Finances: www.mindyourfinances.com

Saving, Increasing Your Spending Power, Banking ESP INCHARGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | These modules are designed to serve as resources that the general consumer can use to learn about the basic financial principles involved in these areas and to identify steps that can be taken to ensure that the consumer can direct some control over his/her economic activities.

Money Smart ESP www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart

FDIC | Teaches low- to moderate-income adults about finances. It is available in a teacher-based format, and directly to consumers in CD-ROM and Web-based format on the FDIC’s home page. It is available in 5 languages including Spanish and includes a train-the-trainer component.

Modules include:

Bank on It introduction to bank services Borrowing Basics introduction to credit Check it Out how to choose and keep a checking account Money Matters how to keep track of your money Pay Yourself First why you should save Keep It Safe your rights as a consumer

To Your Credit how your credit history will affect your credit future Charge It Right how to make a credit card work for you Loan to Own know what you're borrowing before you

buy Your Own Home what homeownership is all about

Preparing to Buy a Home—Your Personal Workbook ESP COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS | Offered in English and Spanish, this workbook was created to work in conjunction with the FDIC Money Smart training materials. Topics covered include Money Management, The Importance of Credit, Qualifying for a Loan, and Glossary. Worksheets include a Daily Spending Diary, Income and Expense Worksheet, Budgeting Tool, Mortgage Shopping Worksheet and more. 50 complimentary copies provided upon request. Contact Countrywide Corporate Giving, corporate_giving@countrywide.com.

Young Money | Grab Todd’s Cash www.youngmoney.com/money_game

INCHARGE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | “Grab Todd's Cash” is a high-tech game designed to test a player’s money skills, a fun way to test how much one knows how to handle his/her dough.

In each chosen topic round, the player teams up with one of the “Mo’ Money Gamers.” This team challenges Todd, the “financial genius.” One can play from “Dead Broke” to “Big Wheel” by teaming up with all 8 Mo’ Money Gamers and winning Bonus Rounds!

High scores are displayed on the Web site, so people are encouraged to come back, test Todd again and again, score more points, and even learn a little bit more about managing one’s finances.

Low– to m

oderate-income

General consum

ers M

inorities A

dults College students

High school students

Banking/budgeting/savings Credit m

anagement

Hom

eownership

Retirement planning

Train-the-trainer

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1

11

12

Booklet/workbook CD-ROM Online ESP Available in Spanish

NATIONAL F INANCIAL L ITERACY RESOURCES OTHER RESOURCES

JA Finance Park JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT | Offers students personal financial management and career exploration through classroom instruction and active participation in a simulated community. The curriculum serves as an integrated unit to prepare students for an all-day visit to JA Finance Park.

NeighborWorks THE NEIGHBORWORKS NETWORK | Includes the neighborhood revitalization and educational services offered by Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, Neighborhood Housing Services of America, and a national network of public and private partnerships. Through their “Financial Fitness Training Program” local NeighborWorks affiliates teach the basics of finances and consumer skills such as setting financial goals, assets and liabilities, and using banks wisely.

www.nw.org/network/pubs/studies/documents/finfitstartup.pdf www.nhsnyc.org/content/buy/homebuyer_education.html

National Foundation for Credit Counseling A national nonprofit network of 1,450 Neighborhood Financial Care Centers designed to provide assistance to people dealing with stressful financial situations.

www.nfcc.org

360 Degrees of Financial Literacy AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS | Articles and fact sheets on topics covering homeownership, retirement planning, money management, credit, and many other subjects.

www.360financialliteracy.org

Corporation for Enterprise Development Promotes asset-building and economic opportunity strategies, primarily in low-income and distressed communities, that bring together community practice, public policy, and private markets. CFED has promoted the IDA as a means of enabling low-income individuals to develop assets and is currently drafting certification standards for IDA Programs. CFED coordinates the American Dream Demonstration (ADD), a large-scale IDA program which has designed and implemented IDA initiatives in 13 locations around the country.

www.cfed.org

Assets for Independence Demonstration (AFI) The first federal law to fund IDA programs. Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this initiative has been authorized to fund 5-year project grants to establish new IDAs across the country.

www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding/assets.html

Federal Reserve System The Fed has developed a campaign to call attention to the importance of personal financial education entitled “There's a Lot to Learn about Money.” The campaign includes public service announcements as well as educational resources.

www.federalreserveeducation.org

NATIONAL F INANCIAL EDUCATION CLEARINGHOUSES

Financial Literacy and Education Commission A partnership of 20 federal agencies, maintains the MyMoney.gov Web site and 1.888.MYMONEY toll-free hotline that provide access to a wide variety of publications and tools that can assist consumers better understand their money - how to save it, invest it, and manage it wisely to meet important personal goals.

www.mymoney.gov

Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy Jump $tart maintains a clearinghouse of resources that seek to promote financial literacy.

www.jumpstartcoalition.org

The United States Conference of Mayo Tom Cochran, Executive Dir

1620 Eye Street NW Washington, DC 20006

Phone 202.293.7330 Fax 202.293.2352 usmayors.org

dollarwiseonline.org

COUNCIL FOR THE NEW AMERICAN CITY 2006 MEMBERS

Index OF RECOMMENDED CURRICULA

Founding Sponsor of the Dollar Wi$e Campaign

American Institute of Architects

American Management Services

Cherokee Investment Partners, LLC

Countrywide Financial

DuPont

InCharge Education Foundation

Initiative for a Competitive Inner City

International Council of Shopping Centers

Mortgage Bankers Association

National Association of Home Builders

National Association of Realtors

National Urban League

Nationwide Retirement Solutions

Kwame M. Kilpatrick Mayor of Detroit Chair, Council for the New American City

Dave Gatton Director, Council for the New American City

rs

ector

General curricula 01 Money Smart Banking/Budgeting/Savings 01 Money Smart 06 High School Financial

Planning Program 08 Investing for Success 09 Late Savers Guidebook 10 Mind Your Finances 12 Young Money Credit Management 01 Money Smart 02 Credit Booster 03 Credit Compass Classroom

Edition 04 CreditSmart 10 Mind Your Finances 12 Young Money | Grab

Todd’s Cash Homeownership 01 Money Smart 05 Freddie Mac Homebuyer

Resources 07 Homeownership Basics

Online 11 Preparing to Buy a Home—

Your Personal Workbook Retirement Planning 08 Investing for Success 09 Late Savers Guidebook