Financial Literacy in Ontario High Schools: The 2026–2027 OSSD Requirement

A student may know how to solve a math problem. Can they use that knowledge to choose a bank account, compare credit card terms or plan their monthly spending?

Financial literacy means applying financial concepts to everyday decisions. Ontario introduces these concepts in its mathematics curriculum from the early grades.

Students learn to budget, save, set financial goals, understand interest and borrowing, make informed purchases and protect their financial information. These skills can help prepare them for university and adult responsibilities.

Under the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement:

• Students who are subject to the requirement complete it through Grade 10 Career Studies.
• Students must earn at least 70% on the modules to meet the requirement.
• Students have up to two attempts during the course.
• The assessment counts for 5% of the final Career Studies mark. If a student makes more than one attempt, the highest mark is used. The 5% does not apply to students who are exempt or have already met the requirement.
• Completion is recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript.
• Additional support and alternative ways to meet the requirement are available to students who do not meet it in their first two attempts.

The graduation requirement is part of Ontario’s existing curriculum and is assessed within Career Studies for students who are subject to it.

Ontario Ministry of Education policy identifies TVO as the developer of the learning modules and assessment questions for the financial literacy graduation requirement.

TVO, the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, is a public educational organization funded and overseen by the Ontario government. Its work supports students and teachers across Ontario’s education system.

The Ministry sets education policy and graduation requirements. TVO develops the learning and assessment resources used to put this requirement into practice.

University students may take on more responsibility for everyday expenses. They may need to budget for housing, transportation and living costs, manage bank accounts, and compare scholarships and tuition costs.

Students planning to study abroad may also need to manage expenses in more than one currency. Financial literacy can help them make informed decisions about those costs.

Students who enter an Ontario school in Grade 11 or 12 from outside Ontario may qualify for an exemption if the principal grants equivalent Grade 9 and 10 credits, including the Grade 10 Career Studies credit.

For students enrolling with TVO ILC from Türkiye, whether they must complete the assessment depends on their previous schooling, grade level, the outcome of their credit equivalency review and the requirements that apply to their program.

Ontario policy also allows TVO ILC to use online proctoring when the applicable conditions are met. Whether a student can take the assessment remotely depends on those conditions.

Contact our team to discuss your student’s situation and learn more about the Canadian High School Diploma program.

Ontario’s financial literacy graduation requirement gives students a way to practise everyday skills alongside their academic studies. TVO’s role in developing the modules and assessment illustrates how it supports education across Ontario.

Catalyst Education continues to share how Ontario’s education system supports students’ academic and personal development.