Step Up For Students Approved Provider | Financial Literacy Enrichment | Ages 12–18
The Money Skills Schools Don't Teach
A structured 6-week financial literacy program for Florida students ages 12–18. Approved for FES-EO, FES-UA, FTC, and PEP scholarship funding through Step Up For Students.
Taught by Michael Cano, CPA, MST | Adjunct Faculty, Miami Dade College | Virtual & Statewide Florida
Approved Step Up For Students Provider | Eligible for FES-EO · FES-UA · FTC · PEP Scholarships | Florida Statewide | Search "FirstStep Financials" in the Step Up marketplace
Most students graduate with zero financial education.
Budgeting, saving, credit, and investing are not covered in most school curriculums. By the time students enter adulthood, they are already behind. FirstStep Financial Foundations changes that — and your Step Up scholarship can pay for it.
Step Up For Students Approved Provider
Use Your Florida Scholarship to Pay for This Program
FirstStep Financials is an approved enrichment provider on the Step Up For Students marketplace. If your student has a FES-EO, FES-UA, FTC, or PEP scholarship, you can use those funds to enroll in this program at no out-of-pocket cost to your family.
Book Your Intro Call
Schedule a free 20-minute call with Michael so we can confirm the program is the right fit and get your student set up.
Schedule Now →Find Us in the Marketplace
Log in to your Step Up For Students account and search for "FirstStep Financials" in the provider marketplace. Add our program to your cart.
Submit Your Payment Request
Submit the payment request through the Step Up portal. You can pay directly through EMA or pay out of pocket and submit for reimbursement. Once approved, your student's spot is confirmed.
About the Program
A Premium Financial Literacy Enrichment Program for Florida Students
FirstStep Financial Foundations is a structured financial literacy enrichment elective for Florida homeschool, private school, and hybrid students ages 12 to 18. Sessions are focused, practical, and taught live by a licensed CPA.
This is not a generic class. It is a CPA-led, curriculum-driven educational experience that parents can trust and students will actually use — and it qualifies as an approved enrichment elective through the Step Up For Students scholarship program.
"Financial habits formed in the teen years are among the strongest predictors of adult financial wellbeing. The earlier students learn, the better."
Your Instructor
Michael Cano, CPA, MST
Certified Public Accountant & Financial Educator
- ✓Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- ✓Master of Science in Taxation, University of Miami
- ✓B.S. in Accounting, University of Miami
- ✓Adjunct Faculty, Miami Dade College, Financial Accounting
- ✓10+ years in accounting, tax, and financial education
6-Week Financial Literacy Curriculum
What Your Student Will Learn
Each session is 45–60 minutes, delivered virtually, with structured instruction and takeaways your student can apply immediately.
Week 1
How Money Works
Income, taxes, and compound interest. Students learn the difference between building real wealth and simply looking wealthy, and why that distinction changes everything.
Week 2
Budgeting and Cash Flow
Pay Yourself First, cash flow systems that actually work, and how spending triggers like haul culture, subscriptions, and impulse buying silently drain your money before you notice.
Week 3
Saving and Emergency Funds
Why saving matters, how to build an emergency fund, and how to set saving goals that are realistic and motivating.
Week 4
Introduction to Investing
Core investing concepts including compound interest, index funds, and why starting early is the most powerful financial advantage a young person has.
Week 5
Credit, Debt & the Digital Money Trap
Credit scores, the real cost of APR, and Buy Now Pay Later apps (Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm). How digital money tools are designed to make debt feel invisible, and how to see through it.
Week 6
Building a Personal Financial Plan
Students build their own one-page financial plan to take home. Covers risk management, fraud and scams targeting young people, and how to evaluate financial advice as they grow into adulthood.
Learning Outcomes
What Students Walk Away With
Financial Confidence
Students gain the knowledge to make smart money decisions now and well into the future.
A Personal Financial Plan
A completed, student-created financial plan they can actually use after the program ends.
Strong Money Habits
Practical habits around budgeting, saving, and spending that become second nature.
Investing Fundamentals
A clear understanding of how investing works and why starting young is a major advantage.
Credit and Debt Awareness
The tools to understand and manage credit responsibly before they ever open a credit card.
Goal-Setting Skills
A proven framework for setting and achieving financial goals at any age.
Digital Money Awareness
How to recognize Buy Now Pay Later traps, influencer financial advice, and apps designed to make spending feel painless.
Fraud & Risk Protection
Scam awareness, identity theft basics, and insurance fundamentals to protect everything they work to build.
Who This Is For
Built for Motivated Students and Engaged Florida Families
This program is the right fit whether your student is homeschooled, in private school, college-bound, or using a Step Up For Students scholarship to access enrichment education.
Program Details
Simple, Flexible, and Built Around Your Schedule
Duration
6-Week Structured Program
Session Length
45–60 Minutes Per Session
Delivery
Virtual, Statewide Florida
Format
Individual or Small Group
Scheduling
Flexible, Around Your Schedule
Instructor
Michael Cano, CPA, MST
Give Your Student the Financial Education They Deserve
Book a free 20-minute intro call to learn more about the program and find out if it's the right fit for your student.
Step Up For Students scholarship families: we will walk you through the payment process on the call.
Book Your Free Call TodayNo pressure. No obligation. Just a conversation about your student's financial future.