Transitioning to Work and College

This unit prepares students to make informed choices about education, employment, and early-adult finances by exploring college and career options, job-readiness skills, paycheck and benefit basics, budgeting tools, credit-building, consumer protection, and introductory investing and insurance concepts. It builds on foundational money management and readies learners to apply these skills to longer-term planning and more advanced financial topics in Unit 4.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze postsecondary and workforce pathways (community college, four-year college, internships, and non-campus work) by comparing costs, financial aid options, timelines, and likely future earnings to produce a prioritized education-career plan
• Evaluate job offers and employment scenarios by interpreting pay stubs, identifying optional payroll deductions and benefits, and comparing written job offer components to select the best short-term employment choice
• Apply budgeting and bill-payment strategies using digital budgeting apps and simulated monthly cash flows to track spending, pay utility bills, log financial milestones, and plan for education or housing costs
• Demonstrate credit-building and consumer-protection practices by developing a step-by-step plan to improve credit, responding to scams and identity theft, and preparing to meet teen tax-filing obligations