Overview

Students need essential skills and knowledge to manage their financial well-being and make informed financial decisions.

Financial literacy means understanding money and financial matters as well as applying that knowledge to real-life situations. Financial literacy helps students:

  • manage personal finances and be prepared for financial decision-making
  • understand saving, investing and setting long-term financial goals

Classroom learning

Making informed decisions about economic and financial matters is becoming more complex. For this reason, students learn financial literacy across different subjects, including mandatory learning in the following curriculum:

Learning at home

Students and their parents can access activities to learn how to manage money and invest wisely. These activities include videos and exercises that can help families talk about how financial literacy plays a role in everyday life, including:

  • designing a budget
  • loans, credit and investment options
  • the pros and cons of different types of bank accounts and credit cards
  • protecting yourself from financial fraud and keeping your information safe

Learn more about free financial literacy education activities.

Financial literacy graduation requirement

Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, students who began Grade 9 in the 2025–2026 school year or later, must meet a financial literacy graduation requirement to earn their high school diploma.

Students will complete this requirement as part of their compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies course. The requirement consists of learning modules and test questions developed by TVO and provided to schools to administer.

The requirement assesses core financial literacy concepts from the Grades 1 to 9 curriculum and supports the Grade 10 Career Studies course.

To meet the requirement, students:

  • have up to 2 attempts during the course
  • must earn at least 70% on the modules

Once a student meets the graduation requirement, it will be recorded on their Ontario Student Transcript.

Results from the modules count for 5% of the student’s final grade in the Grade 10 Career Studies course.

If a student completes more than one attempt, the highest mark counts toward their final grade in the Grade 10 Career Studies course.

If a student has already met the requirement (for example, in a previous attempt) or is exempt, the 5% is not included in their final course mark.

Exceptions

Most students will complete the financial literacy modules when they take the Grade 10 Career Studies course in 2026.

However, there are some exceptions.

  • Students who took the Career Studies course before the start of the 2026–2027 school year.     

    Students who have taken the Career Studies course before the start of the 2026–2027 school year do not have to complete the financial literacy graduation requirement.
  • Students who took a locally developed Grade 9 Mathematics course     

    Students who take a locally developed Grade 9 Mathematics course in lieu of the Grade 9 MTH1W course before September 2027 do not have to complete the financial literacy graduation requirement.    

    Beginning in September 2028, all students will be required to complete the financial literacy graduation requirement.
  • Students who enroll in Ontario schools in Grades 11 or 12 from outside Ontario     

    Students from outside of Ontario who enroll in an Ontario school in Grade 11 or 12 do not have to complete the financial literacy graduation requirement if their principal grants them Grade 9 and 10 credits through the equivalency process, including the Grade 10 Career Studies credit.

Information for parents and guardians

During the first week of the Career Studies course, the school will tell you when your child will attempt the financial literacy graduation requirement.

How you will get updates

You will receive information about your child’s results throughout the course. After each attempt, you will receive results and next steps within 5 days.

Once your child meets the graduation requirement, it will be added to their transcript.

If your child does not pass the first attempt, you will receive their results and the date of the second attempt.

Before the second attempt, your child will have chances to build their understanding. This may include:

  • reviewing extra resources on TVO Learn
  • getting help and supports through the school

If your child does not pass on the second attempt

You will receive their result and information about the options available to help them meet the requirement.

These options may include:

  • attempting the modules again outside of the Career Studies course under school staff member supervision
  • receiving additional instructional support before trying again
  • completing a set of financial literacy learning activities developed by TVO and administered by the school or TVO (available starting in February 2027)

These options will be available until your child successfully completes the requirement.

In extenuating circumstances, including if your child is close to graduation, your child can complete the financial literacy graduation requirement through an adjudication process.

How decisions are made

The school will recommend an option for your child. You can meet with the school principal to discuss this recommendation. You must choose an option and provide your decision within 5 days.

If your child does not pass the course and the requirement

If your child does not pass the Grade 10 Career Studies course and does not meet the financial literacy graduation requirement, they may need to take the course again.

They will have 2 new attempts to meet the requirement.

Once they meet the requirement, it will be added to their transcript. They do not need to complete it again, even if they do not pass the Career Studies course.

If your child is taking the Career Studies course in an online or remote learning format

Unless the course includes online proctoring with security and integrity, your child must attend in person on the day the requirement is being completed at their home school or another school identified by their school board if required.

School boards are responsible for coordinating with online or remote educators and principals to set the time and location for in-person administration of the requirement. They will share this information with you at the start of the course.

Please ensure your child can attend in person on the day the modules are administered.

Resources

Access financial literacy resources for all grades on TVOLearn to equip students with the skills needed to manage money and make informed financial decisions for their future. This includes resources that support and prepare students for the financial literacy graduation requirement, as well as information for educators and parents.