Course Catalog
Section G · College-Preparatory Elective AB 2927 Compliant 17 VR Labs
California Personal Finance
UC A-G Section G personal finance course aligned to California AB 2927, with eight full units covering banking, budgeting, credit, investing, insurance, taxes, consumer protection, career planning, and immersive VR financial simulations.
1/2 Year Online · Remote / Hybrid / In-Person Personal Finance Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 5 credits 8 units · 37 lessons
Personal Finance Command Center
Banking, EduCoin, VR, and SofAI in one course
This is built as a course operating system: students learn finance, practice decisions in VR, record portfolio evidence, and use EduCoin simulations to understand how learning rewards, savings, institutional budgets, taxes, compliance, and consumer protection fit together.
EduCoin Bank
Students run safe simulations across learner wallets, school banks, district banks, savings buckets, and compliance review.
SofAI Tutor
A finance-specific coach helps students compare products, debug budgets, explain formulas, and prepare portfolio evidence.
VR Decision Labs
Learners practice account opening, fraud response, pay-stub reconciliation, credit choices, insurance risk, and life-cost tradeoffs.
Your Finance Tutor
Dr. Lena Brooks
Personal Finance, Banking & EduCoin Systems Coach
Money gets less scary when you can see the system. We'll use real banking language, clear math, VR scenarios, and EduCoin ledger practice so every choice becomes something you can explain, defend, and improve.
Section GUC A‑G Requirement
College-Preparatory Elective — 1 year required
Must be chosen from additional courses in categories A–F (beyond the minimum requirements) OR from other UC-approved college-preparatory electives, including computer science, business, statistics, and interdisciplinary STEM courses.
Why This Matters for College Admission
G electives are where students develop depth and signal academic passion. AI, cybersecurity, data science, and entrepreneurship courses are highly competitive differentiators for tech-oriented admissions profiles.
What You'll Learn
Build a personal financial plan grounded in values, goals, income, and California cost-of-living realities
Compare banking products, credit terms, loans, insurance, taxes, investments, and consumer protections with evidence
Use math models to evaluate pay stubs, budgets, credit card debt, compound growth, risk, and total cost of ownership
Practice financial decisions in VR simulations before facing them in the real world
Complete an AB 2927-aligned portfolio and final financial plan presentation
Leave with practical readiness for work, college, renting, transportation, fraud prevention, and long-term wealth building
Full-Course Signature
8
Units
37
Lessons
36
Instructional Hours
17
VR Activities
8
AB 2927 Topics
Global EduCoin™ Reserve Bank
Make every positive learning action visible, valuable, and teachable while giving institutions a transparent way to sponsor financial literacy.
Institutional District Bank
Participating school district or county office
Cohort sponsorship, AB 2927 rollout incentives, teacher training credits, and family engagement rewards.
250,000 EDU starting balance
School Program Bank
School site, charter, microschool, or learning pod
Classroom missions, attendance-positive incentives, tutoring boosts, and student artifact rewards.
50,000 EDU starting balance
Student Learning Wallet
Student profile
Claim account bonuses, SofAI credits, lesson rewards, course milestones, and portfolio achievements.
500 EDU starting balance
Family Support Wallet
Parent or guardian profile
Family workshops, consent milestones, progress conferences, and at-home financial literacy missions.
150 EDU starting balance
Teacher Studio Wallet
Teacher or mentor profile
Feedback quality, intervention completion, curriculum contributions, and cohort health improvements.
1,000 EDU starting balance
Trust boundaries every student must know
EduCoin™ is an education ecosystem credit and learning ledger unit, not legal tender, an insured deposit, a public investment product, or a promise of external exchange value.
The 1 EDU = 1 USD reference unit is an internal policy target for pricing, accounting, dashboards, and learning simulations; redeemability, public token transfer, fiat settlement, or exchange functionality requires regulated launch approval.
EduCoin Transaction Labs
Lab 1 · banking-and-safe-money
Banking, Payment Apps, and Safe Money
Open an account, compare institutions, read fee schedules, and protect funds.
Students open an EduCoin™ wallet profile, choose alerts, avoid a suspicious transfer, and explain why FDIC insurance matters for real-world bank accounts.
Create a role-based account · 500 EDU · postedAsk SofAI a productive learning question · 10 EDU · postedComplete a lesson mission · 75 EDU · posted
Lab 2 · money-operating-system
Values, Scarcity, Tradeoffs, and Financial Well-Being
Create personal money rules before incentives can distort decision-making.
Students decide which positive actions should earn EduCoin™ and write a fairness policy.
SofAI sign-up credit offer · 300 EDU · pending-until-accountAsk SofAI a productive learning question · 10 EDU · postedSubmit a financial literacy artifact · 150 EDU · requires-review
Lab 3 · income-paychecks-and-taxes
Income, Paychecks, Benefits, and Taxes
Separate gross earnings, deductions, net income, benefits, and tax obligations.
Students receive a simulated paycheck, reconcile it with their wallet balance, and classify tax-aware EduCoin™ activity for family review.
Complete a lesson mission · 75 EDU · postedSubmit a financial literacy artifact · 150 EDU · requires-reviewReview tax-aware EduCoin™ activity · requires-review
Lab 4 · budgeting-for-real-life
Budgeting and Cash Flow
Plan inflows, outflows, timing gaps, emergency buffers, and values-aligned choices.
Students build a 30/60/90-day EduCoin™ budget and survive three surprise events.
Complete a lesson mission · 75 EDU · postedSubmit a financial literacy artifact · 150 EDU · requires-reviewMove EduCoin™ into savings · posted
Lab 5 · saving-and-emergency-funds
Saving, Goals, and Emergency Funds
Distinguish spending reserves, goal reserves, and emergency reserves.
Students route rewards into spending, saving, giving, and long-term accounts.
Complete a lesson mission · 75 EDU · postedSubmit a financial literacy artifact · 150 EDU · requires-review
Lab 6 · credit-score-flight-simulator
Credit, Borrowing, and APR
Model credit access, interest, repayment, and the cost of borrowing.
Students compare a no-fee plan against a high-APR plan, see how saving/spending habits affect their EduCoin™ bank profile, and defend the safer choice.
Complete a lesson mission · 75 EDU · postedAsk SofAI a productive learning question · 10 EDU · postedMove EduCoin™ into savings · posted
Lab 7 · debt-loans-and-college
Paying for College and Career Return on Investment
Evaluate aid, loans, scholarships, opportunity cost, completion risk, and credential value.
Students build a college funding stack and flag risks for counselor review.
Enroll in a course or request district access · 250 EDU · postedSubmit a financial literacy artifact · 150 EDU · requires-review
Lab 8 · insurance-and-risk
Risk, Insurance, and Protection
Transfer, reduce, avoid, or accept risk with clear evidence.
Students insure a simulated wallet against loss, fraud, interruption, and overconfidence.
Complete a lesson mission · 75 EDU · postedAsk SofAI a productive learning question · 10 EDU · posted
Lab 9 · investing-and-compounding
Investing, Compounding, and Hype Resistance
Teach long-term growth, diversification, fees, volatility, and evidence-based skepticism.
Students compare a patient portfolio with a hype-driven trade and write a risk memo.
Complete a lesson mission · 75 EDU · postedSubmit a financial literacy artifact · 150 EDU · requires-review
Lab 10 · housing-transportation-and-independent-living
Housing, Transportation, and Life Costs
Make large recurring costs visible before signing or committing.
Students choose between rent, commute, insurance, and flexibility scenarios.
Complete a lesson mission · 75 EDU · postedAsk SofAI a productive learning question · 10 EDU · posted
Lab 11 · consumer-protection-scams-and-privacy
Consumer Protection, Fraud, and Digital Safety
Build healthy skepticism, dispute processes, privacy practices, and recovery steps.
Students investigate a simulated scam and file a clear incident response plan.
Complete a lesson mission · 75 EDU · postedHelp a peer learn safely · 40 EDU · requires-review
Lab 12 · entrepreneurship-giving-and-community
Entrepreneurship, Giving, and Community Wealth
Connect value creation, ethics, pricing, service, giving, and community reinvestment.
Students design an EduCoin™-funded student venture or community finance mission.
Submit a financial literacy artifact · 150 EDU · requires-reviewHelp a peer learn safely · 40 EDU · requires-review
Lab 13 · capstone-ten-year-money-plan
Personal Finance Capstone and Life Plan
Convert the semester into an auditable personal finance operating system.
Students present a wallet history, budget, credit stance, career plan, and resilience memo.
Submit a financial literacy artifact · 150 EDU · requires-reviewVerify a credential or portfolio packet · 30 EDU · posted
VR Finance Studio17 simulations
Unit 1 · iTeachXR
VR Town: Decision Crossroads
Students walk through a virtual town and make real-time spending decisions at each stop, seeing how choices cascade.
Lesson: What Is Personal Finance?
Unit 1 · SofAI
The Influence Lab
Students experience simulated ad targeting and algorithmic nudges, then debrief on how external forces shape financial decisions.
Lesson: Money & Identity
Unit 2 · iTeachXR
Pay Stub Simulator
Interactive VR workspace where students adjust hours, wages, and W-4 allowances and watch the pay stub recalculate in real time.
Lesson: Reading Your Pay Stub
Unit 2 · SofAI
Tax Bracket Explorer
Students visually climb a 3D tax bracket tower, seeing how each additional dollar of income is taxed at higher rates.
Lesson: The Tax System
Unit 2 · iTeachXR
Career Compass VR
Students enter VR workplaces across five industries, interview AI avatars about their careers, and collect data for their Lifetime Earnings Projection.
Lesson: Career Planning & Human Capital
Unit 3 · iTeachXR
Budget Framework Lab
Four VR rooms, each representing a different budgeting method. Students try each system for 10 minutes using their own data.
Lesson: Budgeting Frameworks
Unit 3 · iTeachXR
Virtual Bank Branch
Students open accounts, set up direct deposit, and handle a simulated overdraft situation in a realistic VR bank branch.
Lesson: Banking Basics
Unit 4 · SofAI
Credit Score Dashboard
Students receive a simulated credit profile and see in real time how different actions (late payment, new card, balance payoff) affect their score.
Lesson: How Credit Works
Unit 4 · iTeachXR
Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche Simulator
Students enter two debts and watch animated VR payoff timelines for both strategies, seeing exactly how much interest each approach saves.
Lesson: True Cost of Debt
Unit 4 · iTeachXR
The Lending Trap
Students are immersed in a simulated predatory lending scenario with real fee structures. A debrief follows with comparison to credit union alternatives.
Lesson: Predatory Lending & Consumer Rights
Unit 5 · iTeachXR
Compound Interest Time Machine
Students travel to age 65 in VR and see how much their $1,000 invested today would be worth — and compare it to waiting until 35.
Lesson: The Magic of Compound Interest
Unit 5 · WorldLabs
Stock Market Floor
Students enter a virtual stock exchange, 'buy' index fund shares, and watch their simulated portfolio over a compressed 10-year timeline.
Lesson: Introduction to Investing
Unit 5 · WorldLabs
Portfolio Architect
Students drag asset classes into a virtual portfolio and see how historical market events (2008, 2020 crash) would have affected each allocation.
Lesson: Building a Portfolio
Unit 6 · iTeachXR
Coverage California VR
Students enter simulated Covered California marketplace, input household income, and receive a personalized plan recommendation with cost breakdown.
Lesson: Health Insurance
Unit 7 · SofAI
Phishing Simulator
Students receive a series of realistic phishing emails and texts in a VR inbox. They must flag each attempt and explain the red flags they spotted.
Lesson: Identity Theft & Fraud
Unit 8 · iTeachXR
College Cost Comparison Lab
Students navigate VR campuses for UC, CSU, and CCC and receive a personalized net price calculation based on their household income.
Lesson: Higher Education Finance
Unit 8 · SofAI
Financial Plan VR Pitch Room
Students present their plan in a virtual boardroom with AI financial advisor avatars providing real-time feedback.
Lesson: Capstone: Personal Financial Plan Presentation
EduCoin Habit Loops
Daily learner streak
dailyEarn: Complete one meaningful learning action: lesson, reflection, SofAI check-in, portfolio artifact, or finance simulation.
Save: Move at least 20% of streak rewards into a goal before spending on AI credits or course utilities.
Spend: Spend only when it supports a named course, credential, application, or portfolio goal.
Streaks reward effort and consistency, not grades or private behavior surveillance.
EduCoin Challenge Missions
District or bank sponsor
30-Day Savings Sprint
Savings goal created, weekly reflection completed, spend-vs-save decision defended.
50,000 EDU poolSavings consistency and family confidence signals.
Community bank partner
Fraud Defense Week
Fraud scenario inspected, recovery plan submitted, teacher review completed.
75,000 EDU poolConsumer protection artifacts and reduced risky utility requests.
AI learning partner
AI-Credit Budget Challenge
Student sets an AI-credit budget, maps spend to a project, and explains the learning return.
100,000 EDU poolPurposeful AI usage, portfolio progress, and budget discipline.
District, employer, or foundation
Credential Proof Drive
Artifact reviewed, credential packet generated, verification event recorded.
125,000 EDU poolPortable proof, transcript readiness, and external verification activity.
School district or county office
AB 2927 District Mission
Cohort launched, teachers activated, families briefed, students complete finance milestones.
250,000 EDU poolMandate readiness, completion rate, family engagement, and artifact evidence.
Course Structure
Unit 1Weeks 1-2
Financial Foundations
- Money Mindset & Goal Setting
- How do my values, background, and goals shape the financial decisions I make?
- 4 lessons · 2 VR labs
Unit 2Weeks 3-4
Income & Careers
- Earning, Compensation & Taxes
- How do I maximize my lifetime earning potential, and what does the government take — and give back?
- 5 lessons · 3 VR labs
Unit 3Weeks 5-6
Budgeting & Money Management
- Spending Plans That Actually Work
- How do I make a budget I'll actually keep — and what do I do when life surprises me?
- 5 lessons · 2 VR labs
Unit 4Weeks 7-8
Credit & Debt
- Borrowing Smart, Staying Free
- When is borrowing a powerful tool — and when does it become a trap?
- 5 lessons · 3 VR labs
Unit 5Weeks 9-10
Saving & Investing
- Compound Interest & Wealth Building
- How does money grow — and how do I put that growth to work for me starting today?
- 5 lessons · 3 VR labs
Unit 6Weeks 11-12
Insurance & Risk Management
- Protecting What You Build
- How do I protect myself financially from events I can't control — without over-insuring?
- 4 lessons · 1 VR labs
Unit 7Weeks 13-14
Consumer Skills & Protection
- Smart Buying, Fraud Prevention & Your Rights
- How do I become the smartest buyer in the room — and how do I fight back when I'm wronged?
- 4 lessons · 1 VR labs
Unit 8Weeks 15-16
Life Events & Financial Capstone
- Major Decisions, Financial Wellness & Your Plan
- What financial decisions will I face in the next five years, and how do I make them well?
- 5 lessons · 2 VR labs
Inside Each Lesson
Marble scene · SofAI coach · EduCoin ecosystemPersonal Finance Curriculum Map
🧭
Unit 1 · 4 lessons
Financial Foundations
Students establish a personal financial identity, set SMART financial goals, and learn how values shape money decisions. The unit closes with a personal financial mission statement.
What Is Personal Finance?
discussionDefine personal finance, distinguish needs from wants, and map the financial decisions students already make.
VR · VR Town: Decision Crossroads
The Power of Financial Goals
portfolioApply the SMART goal framework to personal financial aspirations, distinguishing short-, medium-, and long-term goals.
Money & Identity
discussionExamine how culture, family, media, and algorithms shape spending attitudes. Introduce behavioral finance concepts.
VR · The Influence Lab
Unit Deliverable
Personal Financial Mission Statement & 5-Year Roadmap
💼
Unit 2 · 5 lessons
Income & Careers
Students explore income sources, read a real pay stub, calculate net vs. gross pay, and simulate filing Form 1040EZ. Career exploration is woven throughout.
Sources of Income
discussionDistinguish earned income, passive income, and portfolio income. Introduce the concept of multiple income streams.
Reading Your Pay Stub
quizDecode gross pay, deductions, withholdings (federal, state, FICA), and net pay on a sample pay stub.
VR · Pay Stub Simulator
The Tax System
simulationIntroduce federal and California state income taxes. Explain progressive tax brackets, deductions, and credits.
VR · Tax Bracket Explorer
Unit Deliverable
Career Research Report with Lifetime Earnings Projection
📊
Unit 3 · 5 lessons
Budgeting & Money Management
Students build, test, and iterate on personal budgets using real spending data. They compare budgeting frameworks (50/30/20, zero-based, envelope) and finish with a budget they can use today.
The Spending Plan
portfolioDistinguish a budget from a spending plan. Track actual spending for one week using a provided template.
Budgeting Frameworks
simulationCompare 50/30/20, zero-based, envelope, and pay-yourself-first methods. Match each framework to a student persona.
VR · Budget Framework Lab
Banking Basics
quizCompare checking, savings, and money market accounts. Read a bank statement. Reconcile a checking account.
VR · Virtual Bank Branch
Unit Deliverable
Personal Monthly Budget + Emergency Fund Calculator
💳
Unit 4 · 5 lessons
Credit & Debt
Students dissect a credit report, calculate the true cost of debt, compare loan products, and learn negotiation strategies with creditors. Emphasis on avoiding predatory lending.
How Credit Works
quizExplain the credit system: lenders, borrowers, interest, and principal. Introduce the FICO score model.
VR · Credit Score Dashboard
Reading a Credit Report
simulationWalk through all five sections of a sample credit report. Identify errors and practice disputing them.
The Five Cs of Credit
discussionAnalyze loan decisions through the lender's lens: character, capacity, capital, collateral, and conditions.
Unit Deliverable
Credit Score Improvement Plan
📈
Unit 5 · 5 lessons
Saving & Investing
Students build intuition for compound interest, compare investment vehicles (HYSA, CDs, bonds, index funds, Roth IRA), and construct a diversified portfolio aligned to their risk tolerance.
The Magic of Compound Interest
projectDerive the compound interest formula. Use it to illustrate how starting early is worth more than saving more later.
VR · Compound Interest Time Machine
Savings Vehicles
quizCompare HYSA, money market, CDs, and I-bonds. Calculate APY and real return after inflation.
Introduction to Investing
discussionExplain stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. Contrast risk and return. Introduce asset allocation.
VR · Stock Market Floor
Unit Deliverable
Student Investment Portfolio + Compound Interest Projections
🛡️
Unit 6 · 4 lessons
Insurance & Risk Management
Students learn to assess personal risk exposure and select appropriate insurance products. Covers health, auto, renters/homeowners, and life insurance with emphasis on California Medi-Cal and Covered California.
Principles of Insurance
quizExplain risk pooling, premiums, deductibles, and co-payments. Distinguish between term and whole life insurance.
Health Insurance
simulationNavigate Covered California, Medi-Cal eligibility, and employer-sponsored plans. Compare HMO vs. PPO.
VR · Coverage California VR
Auto & Renters Insurance
projectDecode California auto insurance minimums (SB 1107). Compare renters vs. homeowners insurance.
Unit Deliverable
Personal Risk Assessment & Insurance Comparison Report
🔍
Unit 7 · 4 lessons
Consumer Skills & Protection
Students sharpen buying decisions, identify scams targeting California youth, understand lemon laws and consumer protection statutes, and practice disputing fraudulent charges.
Smart Purchasing Decisions
simulationApply cost-benefit analysis to major purchases. Evaluate total cost of ownership vs. sticker price.
Contracts & Consumer Rights
discussionRead and interpret common consumer contracts. Know California lemon law, cooling-off rules, and small claims court.
Identity Theft & Fraud
simulationIdentify phishing, social engineering, and synthetic identity fraud. Freeze a credit report and dispute errors.
VR · Phishing Simulator
Unit Deliverable
Consumer Advocacy Case Study
🎓
Unit 8 · 5 lessons
Life Events & Financial Capstone
Students apply all prior units to major life events — higher education, first apartment, first car, and early career. The semester closes with a comprehensive Personal Financial Plan and oral presentation.
Higher Education Finance
simulationCompare FAFSA, CA Dream Act, Cal Grant, CCPG, loans, and work-study. Calculate net price at UC, CSU, and CCC.
VR · College Cost Comparison Lab
Renting Your First Apartment
simulationRead a California lease. Calculate real cost of renting (deposit, utilities, renter's insurance). Know tenant rights.
Buying a Car
projectCompare buying vs. leasing. Calculate total cost including loan, insurance, fuel, and maintenance.
Unit Deliverable
Comprehensive Personal Financial Plan (Capstone Presentation)
Trusted Study Resources
California Department of Education
AB 2927 implementation hub and Personal Finance Curriculum Guide access.
Khan Academy Personal Finance
Free student-friendly personal finance lessons and videos.
FDIC Money Smart
Federal financial education materials for multiple learner groups.
CFPB Youth Financial Education
Activities, tools, and money skills guidance for educators.
Federal Reserve Education
Classroom resources on economics, banking, credit, and money.
Visa Practical Money Skills
Free financial literacy resources, games, calculators, and lesson support.
PBS Two Cents
Accessible YouTube explainers for consumer decisions, debt, investing, and money psychology.
Prerequisites & Requirements
None
All students complete a placement conversation with our admissions team before enrollment is confirmed. Questions? Contact admissions.
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