Seal of Personal Finance

 Seal of Personal Finance Background

In 2018, the Fifty-third Legislature passed SB1442, creating a Seal of Personal Finance. The State Board of Education and the Superintendent were tasked with creating the requirements for proficiency, which led to R7-2-319 outlining the details. 

• SB1442 (Created the Seal of Personal Finance)

• Arizona Seal of Personal Finance Program Board Rule

• Seal of Personal Finance Information Presentation

Seal of Personal Finance Yearly Reports

Reports are created each academic year. Schools are required to report the number of students awarded the Seal of Personal Finance by September 1 of the start of the next school year. Select the years below to view the annual report that includes: number of students awarded, participating districts/charters, and other general information. 

• 2024-2025
• 2023-2024
• 2022-2023
• 2021-2022

What is Personal Finance Proficiency?

Personal finance (or financial literacy) is defined as "the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing (Investopedia 2025)." While the 2018 History and Social Science Standards require "Financial Literacy/Personal Finance, including but not limited to budgeting, saving, spending, investment, credit, banking, and insurance" in a student's economics course, we consider proficiency going beyond just this learning. Students demonstrate proficiency by not just knowing the basics but by taking the skills learned and applying them to their current and future lives. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The five components of Personal Finance  (Patrik Shore 2021)

Diploma Seals Snapshot Videos

These videos, recorded in April 2026, highlight key details of the four diploma seals.

• Diploma Seals Snapshot 1: What are the Seals? (~28 minutes)
• Diploma Seals Snapshot 2: Who can and how to participate? (~18 minutes)
• Diploma Seals Snapshot 3: What are the outcomes for students and schools? (~26 minutes)

Contact your district directly if you have any questions about earning the Seal of Personal Finance. 

Student Eligibility

• Student must be attending a public school or charter school. Not sure if you attend a public school? Search for your district/charter on the AZ School Report Cards website. 

• Students must complete all requirements during grades 9-12. Previous experience will not be counted. 

• Students must complete all required social studies courses with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale. 

• Students must meet the following requirements: 

  • Completion of an approved personal finance program or curriculum (Learning) 

  • Passage of an assessment(s) of personal finance (Proof of Proficiency) 

  • Participation in a co-curricular or extracurricular program (Beyond the Required Econ Class)

  • Completion of a college/career readiness plan

Resources for Students and Parents

1. Seal of Personal Finance Checklist
2. Seal of Personal Finance Flyer
3. National Standards of Financial Literacy
   • Created by the Council for Economic Education 

Participating Districts and Charters

A Plus Charter Schools  Academy of Tucson  Agua Fria Union High School District  Amphitheater Public Schools  Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics  ASU Preparatory Academy – Casa Grande  ASU Preparatory Academy - Polytechnic High School  ASU Preparatory Academy Digital   Chandler Unified School District  Cholla Academy/Brighton School  Coolidge Unified School District Country Gardens Charter School  Dysart USD 89  Flagstaff Unified School District  Fredonia High School  Gila Bend  Gilbert Public Schools  Higley Unified School District

Kingman Academy of Learning High School  Kingman Unified School District  Marana Unified School District Maricopa Unified School District  Mesa Public Schools  New School for the Arts  Nogales Unified School District #1  NUSD#1/Nogales High School  Pan-American Charter School  Paradise Honors High School  Paradise Valley Unified School District  Peoria Unified School District #11  Phoenix Union High School District  Presidio

Queen Creek Unified School District  Scottsdale Unified School District  Sequoia Choice School, Arizona Distance Learning School  Sunnyside Unified School District  Tanque Verde High School  Tempe Union High School District  Tolleson Union High School District   Tucson Unified School District  University High School- TUSD  Vail Unified School District

 

 District/Charter Eligibility

• Any PUBLIC school, charter, or district may choose to participate, but they must complete the INTENT TO PARTICIPATE FORM (linked above) by September 1 of the participating year. 

• Schools/districts must develop their own process for collecting student data and distributing the seals. Public school districts and charters must designate at least one individual to serve as the Coordinator of the Program. 

• Participating school districts and charters must make information regarding the Seal of Personal Finance program available to parents and students. 

• Schools/Districts must report seal data through the REPORTING FORM (linked above) no later than 90 days after the school year or by September 1.  

Requirements for the Seal 

• Students must complete all required social studies courses with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale. 

• Students must meet the following requirements: 

  • Completion of an approved personal finance program or curriculum (Learning) 

  • Passage of an assessment(s) of personal finance (Proof of Proficiency) 

  • Participation in a co-curricular or extracurricular program (Beyond Required Econ Class)

  • Completion of a college/career readiness plan

Resources for Coordinators

Questions on the Reporitng Form (the data coordinators need to submit)

Seal of Personal Finance Student Checklist

Seal of Personal Finance Flyer 

Seal of Personal Finance Information Slides

Program Rubric for Seal of Personal Finance 

Awarding the Seal of Personal Finance

Formal Seal from the Arizona Department of Education

The Arizona Department of Education will contact those districts/schools that participated and will request an unofficial count of students receiving the Seal of Biliteracy in April. Foil and sticker seals will be sent at the beginning of May to be added to Diplomas.

Optional Recognitions for Seal of Biliteracy

The Arizona Department of Education does not supply any of the following options. A local district or school may provide these items to its students who earn the Seal of Personal Finance:

• Triple-wrapped graduation cord - Colors for the Seal of Personal Finance can be green, white, and gold.

• Certificates are issued to students earning the Seal of Personal Finance

• Medals for the Seal of Personal Finance 

• Recognition ceremony or assembly

• Mention in a local paper

• A banner with student names that earned the Seal of Personal Finance

If a student receives test data after school has ended (AP or IB exams, for example), they still earn the Seal. They can return their diploma to their school to have the Seal of Personal Finance attached. The transcripts would also be updated by the district/school once the tests have been recorded. 

Curriculum or Personal Finance Program

• The curriculum must meet the requirements shown in the Program Rubric in order to be considered as an approved Category 1. This rubric was used to determine the eligibility of programs for this requirement.

• The curriculum listed below will note if it includes a personal finance assessment meeting category four’s criterion. It will also note if the program includes additional topics.   

Program	Assessment	Additional Topics	Notes
NextGen Personal Finance	YES	YES	FREE – WITH LOGIN
Financial Literacy for High School from EVERFI	YES	YES	FREE – WITH LOGIN
Edmentum (Approved Courses: Personal Finance, Personal finacne and Money Management, Personal Fiannec Prescriptive, Personal Finance Literacy, Personal Financial Responsibility)	YES	YES	PURCHASE FOR SITE/DISTRICT
Imagine Edgenuity Personal Finance (General Elective) Course	YES	YES	PURCHASE FOR SITE/DISTRICT
Savvas Personal Financial Course	YES	YES	PURCHASE SITE/DISTRICT
Intuit Personal Finance Course	YES	YES	FREE - WITH LOGIN
Personal Finance Lab Educational Platform	YES	YES	PURCHASE SITE/DISTRICT
Center for Financial Responsibility Personal Financial Literacy Certification Preparation Materials	YES	YES	$40 CERTIFICATION VOUCHER WITH iCEV SUBSCRIPTION
Arizona Council on Economic Education (ACEE) High School Economics Curriculum on Canvas	YES	YES	FREE – AZ STANDARDS ALIGNED
Virtual Business Personal Finance from Knowledge Matters	NO	YES	SIMULATION PURCHASED FOR SITE/DISTRICT
Money Vehicle Program	YES	YES	BUY THE COURSE $100
Foundations in Personal Finance (Ramsey Education)	YES	YES	PURCHASE FOR SITE/DISTRICT
Financial Planning for Young Adults with the University of Illinois through Coursera	NO	YES	CERTIFICATION $49.99 (Subscription)
The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization with SoFi through Coursera	NO	YES	CERTIFICATION $49.99 (Subscription)
Personal Finance 101 - Personal Finance for Regular People from Udemy	NO	YES	CERTIFICATION  $49.99 (Course)
BYU Financial Literacy for High School	YES	YES	Cost: $199
Pathways to Financial Success from Discover (Complete all units)	NO	YES	FREE - STUDENT SELF-PACED + TEACHER GUIDE
MoneyMoments from MidFirst Bank	NO	YES	FREE – STUDENT ACTIVITIES + TEACHER GUIDE
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy	NO	YES	FREE - READINGS + SELF EXPLORATION
Better Money Habits from Bank of America	NO	YES	FREE - READINGS + SELF EXPLORATION
Hands-on Banking from Wells Fargo	NO	YES	FREE - READINGS + SELF EXPLORATION
MoneySKILLS from AFSA Education Foundation	YES	YES	FREE - INSTRUCTOR ACCOUNT NEEDED
Nucleus Financial Literacy Course	YES	YES	PURCHASE FOR SITE/DISTRICT
Banzai Financial Education	YES	YES	FREE - WITH LOGIN
Take Charge Today from the University of Arizona	YES	YES	FREE - WITH LOGIN
Budget Challenge Lessons (E-textbook + Lessons)	YES	YES	PURCHASE FOR SITE/DISTRICT
ASU FIN 294 | Fundamentals of Personal Finance	YES	YES	COST FOR STUDENT $25 | COLLEGE CREDIT $400
Junior Achievement Personal Finance 2.0	YES	YES	FREE In-Person or Virtual Volunteer-Led Lessons
Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth®	YES	YES	FREE Online Program
AP Business with Personal Finance	YES	YES	AP Course through College Board
Stukent CTE Personal Finance Program	YES	YES	PURCHASE FOR SITE/DISTRICT (Please contact [email protected] for more information)
Youth Economic Initiative's FLIP Curriculum	YES	YES	FREE with Registration
Curriculum and programs not on this list must be approved by the Arizona Department of Education. Contact [email protected] or the Director of K-12 Social Studies and World and Native Languages.

Co-Curricular/Extra-Curricular Activities

• Must be completed outside of the required economics class or after school hours. It cannot count as a grade. 

• A professional program that is personal finance related (fits within one or more of the Rubric Topics) and is approved by ADE and the State Board of Education.

• Students must have at least 10 hours of commitment. Students may need to complete more than one program or activity to meet this requirement. 

Professional Programs or Activity	General activities
The Stock Market Game  from Arizona Council on Economic Education (Semester/Year)	Stock Market Simulation
Money Minutes from Arizona Council on Economic Education	Intern/Volunteer at an economics-focused organization/government agency/business
Financial Fitness in Action from Arizona Council on Economic Education (1.5-2 Hours)	Student Work Experience Project
Arizona Economics Challenge from Arizona Council on Economic Education*(Semester/Year Prep)	Running and Operating a Student Store
Arizona Personal Finance Challenge from Arizona Council on Economic Education* (Semester/Year Prep)
EconBowl with Youth Economics Initiative
HowtheMarketWorks.com (Stock Market Simulation)
EconOlympiad from Youth Economics Initiative	SUMMER PROGRAMS
Junior Achievement Programs	Economics for Leaders Programs
Junior Achievement USA Financial Literacy or Entrepreneurship Programs	Entrepreneurship in the Global Economy
Young Finance Scholar from New York Institute of Finance (NYIF)	Environment & the Economy
Young Equity Analyst from NYIF	The Financial Literacy Bootcamp (Two-Day) with NAU Economic Policy Institute
Young Sustainability Scholar from NYIF
Prequel Programs (Prequel Foundations, Scale, or Beyond)
Attend AAED Committee Meeting or Event
Attend a Committee on Finance Meeting
Attend a Committee on Commerce Meeting
Create or Join an EconClub
The Personal Financial Literacy Event through DECA (exam and role-play)
School-Based Enterprise (SBE) through DECA
Competitive Events through DECA (Role-Play and Case-Studies, Prepared Events, Online Simulations)
The Financial Literacy Project through DECA (Written entry and interview)
Join or Create a LifeSmarts Varsity Competition Team
LifeSmarts FBLA Challenge
FBLA Virtual Business Scholarship Challenge – Personal Finance
Hands-on Banking® Experience
Invest in Girls from CEE
Urban Plan for High School through ULI
Leadership, Civics, and You Program from Flinn Foundation (contact Dawn Wallace, [email protected])
Take Charge Cats Workshops
Investopedia Simulator
Personal Finance Lab Stock Market Game
Personal Finance Lab Budgeting Game
Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Economic Outlook Conference hosted by Nancy Baca and the Economic Policy Institute at Northern Arizona University	ADDITIONAL EVERFI COURSES (Students should track completion hours)
Bank of America Financial Literacy Challenge	Tax Simulation (~3 hours 45 minutes)
7 Generation Money Management (7GMM) with NAU Economic Policy Institute	Marketplaces: Investing Basics (~1 hour 35 minutes)
Next Gen Personal Finance Documentaries + Worksheets	Accounting Careers (~20 minutes)
Financially Inclined Series by Marketplace	Minidng Your Money (~1 hour 15 minutes)
Next Gen Personal Finance Arcade Games + Simulations	Build: Credit Fundamentals (~1 hour 35 minutes)
Earn to Learn Scholarship Work Program	Modern Money: Safe Digital Banking (~1 hour 18 minutes)
Budget Challenge Lessons (Simulation)	EverFi Pathways: Financing Higher Education (~1 hour 15 minutes)
Stukent CTE Personal Finance Program (Internship)	Crypto Foundations (~30 minutes)
AVID Elective Course	Grow: Financial Planning for Life (~40 minutes)
InvestWrite Essay Competition	Venture: Entrepreneurial Expediation (~1 hour 30 minutes)
School Participatory Budgeting in Arizona (Center for the Future of Arizona)
Programs, institutes, and initiatives not on this list must be approved by the Arizona Department of Education. Contact [email protected] or the Director of K-12 Social Studies and World and Native Languages.

*Previously, the Mayor’s Challenge for Economic Education

 College/Career Readiness Plan

Students must complete one or more of the approved college/career readiness plans. Completion of these plans helps students use the personal finance knowledge they have obtained for future planning. 

• ECAP, FAFSA, CTE Certification, AVID Elective Course, IEP Future Plan

• Junior Achievement Inspire

• Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

Assessment(s)

Obtain a 60% passing score on an assessment(s) from the approved curriculum above or one of the following: 

• Personal Finance-related Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) Objective Test

• Center for Financial Responsibility Personal Financial Literacy Certification 

• Council for Economic Education Ready Assessments

• Arizona Council on Economic Education Personal Finance Challenge

• Arizona Council on Economic Education Unit One: Personal Finance Assessment

• Create an assessment using district resources, curriculum, and materials that covers topics from the required curriculum/program. Use the Personal Finance Program Rubric as a guide.  Must be approved by the Arizona Department of Education. 

End-of-lesson unit assessments can be used instead of an end-of-course exam. 

 FAQs for Coordinators, Students, and Parents

1. Do students need to complete a written reflection in order to receive the seal of personal finance?
   • Students do not need to complete a written reflection plan, but it is encouraged so that students can reflect on why personal finance is important. 
2. Can my student earn the seal of personal finance for competing in AP Economics (Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Economics)?
   • No, AP Economics does not cover the required topics in personal finance.
3. I have a student who has a paying job. Can they use this experience for the seal of personal finance?
   • Just having a paying job does not qualify a student for the seal of personal finance, but districts can develop a work experience project requiring students to call on their personal finance skills (i.e., weekly budget, interviewing owners and workers, journaling). This project should be approved by ADE. 
4. Does Dual Enrollment Economics meet the requirements of a curriculum?
   • Just like AP, Dual Enrollment does not meet the personal finance requirements. 
5. What courses are required for the 3.0/4.0 GPA?
   • Students must take World History, US History, Government, and Economics in order to graduate from high school in Arizona. These are the courses to consider when determining GPA. Other courses are considered elective courses. 
6. If a student is graduating early, are they able to earn the Seal of Personal Finance?
   • Yes, as long as the student meets all the graduation and seal requirements, they can earn the seal.