A. SAFETY

Effective professionals know the academic subject matter, including safety as required for proficiency within their area. They will use this knowledge as needed in their role. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Review school safety policies and procedures.

2. Review classroom safety rules and procedures.

3. Review safety procedures for using equipment in the classroom.

4. Identify major causes of work-related accidents in office environments.

5. Demonstrate safety skills in an office/work environment.

B. STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Effective professionals know the academic subject matter, including professional development, required for proficiency within their area. They will use this knowledge as needed in their role. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Identify the purpose and goals of a Career and Technology Student Organization (CTSO).

2. Explain how CTSOs are integral parts of specific clusters, majors, and/or courses.

3. Explain the benefits and responsibilities of being a member of a CTSO.

4. List leadership opportunities that are available to students through participation in CTSO conferences, competitions, community service, philanthropy, and other activities.

5. Explain how participation in CTSOs can promote lifelong benefits in other professional and civic organizations.

C. TECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE

Effective professionals know the academic subject matter, including the ethical use of technology as needed in their role. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Demonstrate proficiency and skills associated with the use of technologies that are common to a specific occupation.

2. Identify proper netiquette when using e-mail, social media, and other technologies for communication purposes.

3. Identify potential abuse and unethical uses of laptops, tablets, computers, and/or networks.

4. Explain the consequences of social, illegal, and unethical uses of technology (e.g., piracy; illegal downloading; licensing infringement; inappropriate uses of software, hardware, and mobile devices in the work environment).

5. Discuss legal issues and the terms of use related to copyright laws, fair use laws, and ethics pertaining to downloading of images, photographs, documents, video, sounds, music, trademarks, and other elements for personal use.

6. Describe ethical and legal practices of safeguarding the confidentiality of business-related information.

7. Describe possible threats to a laptop, tablet, computer, and/or network and methods of avoiding attacks.

D. PERSONAL QUALITIES AND EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

Effective professionals know the academic subject matter, including positive work practices and interpersonal skills, as needed in their role. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Demonstrate punctuality.

2. Demonstrate self-representation.

3. Demonstrate work ethic.

4. Demonstrate respect.

5. Demonstrate time management.

6. Demonstrate integrity.

7. Demonstrate leadership.

8. Demonstrate teamwork and collaboration.

9. Demonstrate conflict resolution.

10. Demonstrate perseverance.

11. Demonstrate commitment.

12. Demonstrate a healthy view of competition.

13. Demonstrate a global perspective.

14. Demonstrate health and fitness.

15. Demonstrate self-direction.

16. Demonstrate lifelong learning.

E. PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE

Effective professionals know the academic subject matter, including positive work practices and interpersonal skills, as needed in their role. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. 1. 1. Demonstrate effective speaking and listening skills.

      2. Demonstrate effective reading and writing skills.

      3. Demonstrate mathematical reasoning.

      4. Demonstrate job-specific mathematics skills.

      5. Demonstrate critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

      6. Demonstrate creativity and resourcefulness.

      7. Demonstrate an understanding of business ethics.

      8. Demonstrate confidentiality.

      9. Demonstrate an understanding of workplace structures, organizations, systems, and climates.

      10. Demonstrate diversity awareness.

      11. Demonstrate job acquisition and advancement skills.

      12. Demonstrate task management skills.

      13. Demonstrate customer-service skills.

F. CAREERS AND INCOME

Effective professionals understand the relationship between education, income, and earning power. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. • 1. Complete and analyze the results of a career inventory.

     2. Demonstrate an understanding of different sources of income (e.g. salaries, wages, commission, tips, etc.)

     3. Research career choices, required education and skills, and potential income for various careers, including cost of living considerations.

     4. Calculate standard of living based on various career choices over time.

     5. Compare and contrast various postsecondary education opportunities and costs affiliated with each.

     6. Analyze the relationship between educational options and earning power.

     7. Develop a career plan.

     8. Compute gross earnings, payroll deductions (taxes, retirement, etc.), and net pay.

G. BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL PLANNING

Effective professionals understand the importance of budgeting for financial success. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Explain the major purposes of budgets.

2. Identify and establish short-term and long-term personal financial goals using various goal setting techniques (e.g., SMART).

3. Identify various types of income and expenses.

4. Develop a personal budget based on expected earnings from a chosen career and lifestyle.

5. Identify various tools used for organizing and maintaining financial records.

6. Explain the importance of saving for emergencies.

7. Describe how saving and investing will build wealth and meet financial goals.

H. BANKING SERVICES

Effective professionals demonstrate knowledge of banking services. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Differentiate between various financial institutions (e.g., banks, credit unions, payday lenders, consumer finance companies, etc.)

2. Assess the costs and benefits of financial institutions’ services.

3. Distinguish between different types of banking accounts and evaluate services and related costs associated with them.

4. Compare costs and benefits of online and traditional banking.

5. Identify examples of savings options (e.g., CDs, money markets, savings accounts, IRAs, holiday accounts, etc.).

6. Differentiate between and calculate simple and compound interest.

7. Explain the difference between debit and credit cards.

I. CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

Effective professionals demonstrate effective skills for maintaining checking and savings accounts. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. List requirements and forms needed to open checking and savings accounts (e.g., social security card, state-issued ID, minimum opening deposit, etc.).

2. Maintain a check register, including proper procedures for handling deposits, withdrawals, and check writing.

3. Reconcile various financial statements.

J. CREDIT AND DEBT

Effective professionals develop effective strategies for controlling and managing credit and debt. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Identify types and sources of credit/debt (credit card, personal loan, mortgage, student loans, etc.).

2. Evaluate the costs and benefits of using credit including interest rates, terms, and fees.

3. Explain the 5 C’s of credit (character, collateral, capacity, conditions, and capital) and how they affect credit scores.

4. Evaluate credit card features and their impact on personal financial planning.

5. Identify the three major credit bureaus and their impact on borrowing.

6. Evaluate the method of how credit scores are determined.

7. Create a plan for solving credit problems.

8. Explain consumers’ rights and responsibilities using various consumer protection laws (e.g., Fair Credit Reporting Act, bankruptcy Equal Credit Opportunity Act, etc.)

9. Differentiate the three types of bankruptcies, major causes, and how to avoid them.

10. Calculate borrowing capacity based upon financial guidelines (e.g., 20/10 Rule)

K. CREDIT AND LOANS

Effective professionals develop effective strategies for controlling and managing credit and loans. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Identify the similarities/differences between leasing and buying.

2. Calculate the cost of ownership (e.g., amortization schedule).

3. Calculate the cost of credit.

4. Identify sources for determining fair market value.

5. Identify state and federal laws concerning financing.

6. Complete a loan application.

L. INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Effective professionals understand and apply appropriate and cost-effective risk management strategies. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Define the types of risks and risk management methods.

2. Explain the roles of insurance in financial planning.

3. Explain the various types of insurance coverage.

4. Distinguish among the types, costs, and benefits of insurance coverage including automobile, life, personal property, health, disability, and professional liability.

5. Compare and contrast homeowners and renters insurance.

6. Explain the relationship between deductibles and premiums.

M. INDEPENDENT LIVING

Effective professionals research and apply reliable information and systematic decision making to living independently. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Compare the advantages and disadvantages (including tax implications) of renting versus purchasing property.

2. Calculate the cost of utilities, services, maintenance, and other housing expenses involved in independent living.

3. Explore the terms and rates of various mortgage agreements.

4. Compare the costs of ownership and the costs of property rental.

5. Analyze the process of renting property (lease agreement, security deposit, pet fee, etc.).

N. PERSONAL TAXES

Effective professionals understand personal taxes and impact on income. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Define and discuss exemptions, dependents, and taxable and non-taxable income.

2. Complete W-4 and I-9 forms.

3. Compute gross and net earnings.

4. Discuss withholdings to include mandatory and voluntary deductions.

5. Evaluate fringe benefit packages.

6. Identify employer-sponsored and individual retirement plans.

7. Research county and local taxes including tax assessments.

8. Prepare a 1040 using a W-2 form or 1099 form.

O. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND DECISION MAKING

Effective professionals make responsible financial decisions and consumer choices consistent with one’s financial plan, including decision-making strategies on purchasing. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Examine the influences of advertising and marketing on consumer demand and decision making in the marketplace.

2. Identify major consumer protection laws and organizations that provide important information and help protect against potential consumer fraud (e.g., Better Business Bureau, U.S. Consumer Protection Agency, Consumer Product Safety Commission, etc.)

3. Analyze factors determining direct (price) and indirect costs (e.g., sales/use tax, excise tax, shipping, handling, delivery charges).

4. Describe common ways that I.D. theft happens (e.g., dumpster diving, phishing, skimming, hacking, etc.)

5. Describe methods of protecting yourself from identifying theft and other suspicious account activity.

P. INVESTMENTS

Effective professionals research and apply reliable information to create diversified investment strategies compatible to personal financial goals. The following accountability criteria are considered essential for students in any program of study.

1. Define basic investment concepts (e.g., stocks, mutual funds, bonds, Rule of 72, and personal investments).

2. Describe the importance of the relationship between risk and rate of return.

3. Analyze the history of the stock market and how it works.

4. Evaluate sources of investment information (e.g. financial advisors, online resources, and periodicals).

5. Create and manage an investment portfolio.

6. Identify and evaluate different investment alternatives (e.g., bonds, mutual funds, real estate, ETF, etc.).

7. Describe how to buy and sell various investments including associated costs/fees.

8. Compare and contrast tax treatment of various investments.

9. Describe the funding requirements for the different stages of life (e.g., college funding, home mortgage, retirement).

10. Describe the purpose and importance of estate planning (wills, trusts, gifts, and charitable contributions).

11. Explain the role governmental agencies perform to regulate investments in order to protect 7 April, 2019 consumers/investors.

12. Explore the fundamental workings of the Social Security System and the system’s effect on retirement planning.

13. Compare and contrast types of long-term retirement investments (e.g., Roth and traditional IRA’s, 403(B), 401(K), defined-benefit plans, etc.).

14. Describe illegal and unethical investment practices (e.g., Ponzi schemes, sales practices).