Credit Education 101
The materials and links on this page are presented to provide high school and college students the basics about creating credit histories and keeping credit scores high.
The OCCC’s Education Mission
Today's consumers face an astonishing array of credit products; a basic education in credit products and principles prepares consumers to better understand their choices and obligations. The OCCC understands the imperative need to educate young people about those choices and obligations. The agency plans to develop a comprehensive curriculum guide for use in middle schools and high schools; read about that plan on the agency's funding page.
As part of the agency's education initiative, we present informational seminars throughout the state. If you need a speaker on credit education for your school or organization, please see the Speakers and Presentations section of our Web site.
For more information about the OCCC's credit education program, please contact Consumer Education by phone at 512.936.7624 or via e-mail.
Credit Education Materials
- Credit History Basics: Five helpful hints for creating and keeping a solid credit history
- Win the Credit Game: A quick quiz on some of the most common credit conundrums.
- Credit Education Week Tips: These six keys to clean credit were created to celebrate Credit Ed Week 2002.
- Finance Fundamentals: An article written for parents about teaching kids to use money wisely.
Credit Education Sites
These organizations provide materials for personal finance education programs.
- Jump$tart Coalition: The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy seeks to improve the personal financial literacy of young adults. Jump$tart's purpose is to evaluate the financial literacy of young adults; develop, disseminate, and encourage the use of standards for grades K-12; and promote the teaching of personal finance.
- National Endowment for Financial Education: The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping all Americans acquire the information and gain the skills necessary to take control of their personal finances.
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC's Consumer Protection page provides a wealth of information about a wide variety of credit products and concepts.
- MoneySmart*CreditSmart curriculum: CCCS of Greater Dallas has produced a nine-module interactive education tool for high schools.
- Junior Achievement programs: The Junior Achievement organization's Personal Finance® program helps students make informed decisions about the effective use of income to reach personal financial goals.
- The ABCs of Credit Reports and Scores: The FDIC created this brief but comprehensive guide to explain what's in a credit report, how it gets there, and how scores are determined.
