Standard 1 - Explore career options.

4th Grade
student can:

Explain the difference between a career and a job and identify various jobs in the community.

Give an example of how an individual’s interests, knowledge, and abilities can affect career and job choice.

Identify a topic of personal interest and research a career related to that topic of interest.

Examine a job related to a career of interest.

Give examples of entrepreneurs in the community.

8th Grade
student can:

Give an example of how education and/or training can affect lifetime income.

Identify online and printed sources of information about jobs, careers, and entrepreneurship.

Compare personal skills and interests to various career options.

Describe the educational/training requirements, income potential, and primary duties of at least two jobs of interest.

Identify individuals who could provide a positive job reference.

Complete an age-appropriate, part-time job application, including references.

12th Grade
High school graduate can:

Describe the risks, costs, and rewards of starting a business.

Outline the main components of a business plan.

Analyze how economic, social- cultural, and political conditions can affect income and career potential.

Identify a career goal and develop a plan and timetable for achieving it, including educational/training requirements, costs, and possible debt.

Standard 2 - Identify sources of personal income.

4th Grade
student can:

Explain the difference between a wage and a salary.

Identify jobs children can do to earn money.

Give examples of sources of income other than a wage or salary.

8th Grade
student can:

Define gift, rent, interest, dividend, capital gain, tip, commission, and business Profit income.

Explain the difference between earned and unearned income and give an example of each.

Give an example of a government transfer payment.

Describe how a local government assistance program can benefit people in the community.

12th Grade
High school graduate can:

Explain the effect of inflation on income.

Use a financial or online calculator to determine the future income needed to maintain a current standard of living.

Standard 3 - Describe factors affecting take-home pay.

4th Grade
student can:

Define tax and explain the difference between sales and income taxes.

Give an example of how government uses tax revenues.

8th Grade
student can:

Explain the effect on take-home pay of changing the allowances claimed on an “Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate” (IRS form W-4).

Transfer information on “Wage and Tax Statement” (IRS form W-2) and “Interest Income” (IRS form 1099-INT) to “U.S. Individual Income Tax Return” (IRS form 1040) and comparable state income tax form.

Complete “Income Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers with No Dependents” (IRS form 1040EZ) and comparable state income tax form.

Examine the benefits of employer-sponsored savings plans and other options for shifting current income to the future.

12th Grade
High school graduate can:

Explain all items commonly withheld from gross pay.

Give examples of employee benefits and explain why they are forms of compensation.

Explain the difference between Social Security and Medicare programs.