• Meal Out Cost: Real lunch price ($8–$14) for your Page 4 budget!

Now completing: Packet Page 1 • Section 4 (Recreation & Dining) Launchpad USA

Packet Page 2

Step 02: The 3-Tier Housing Hunt

05 / 09

Use HotPads.com or Zillow.com/rent to find three real rental listings across distinct price tiers:

Tier A • Low Price

Budget / Shared

Roommate share or older apartment on the edge of town.

Trade-off: Shared space or older heating

Tier B • Mid Price

Standard Starter

Standard 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom split in a solid, average neighborhood.

Target: Balanced price, safety & transit

Tier C • High Price

Luxury / Downtown

Modern downtown high-rise with pools, gym, and designer finishes.

Benchmark: See why starter workers avoid this

Now completing: Packet Page 2 • Section 1 (3-Tier Rental Comparison) Launchpad USA

Packet Page 2

Step 02: Move-In Cash & Utility Bills

06 / 09

Upfront Move-In: The 3x Rule

No listing fee hunting required! Standard landlords require three deposits before keys:

• 1. First Month's Rent (= 1 mo share)

• 2. Last Month's Rent (= 1 mo share)

• 3. Security Deposit (= 1 mo share)

• Total Move-In Cash = Monthly Rent × 3

How to Find Utility Averages

Check numbeo.com or use our reference guide benchmarks:

• Electricity / Heat: ~$100 – $140 / mo

• Water / Trash: ~$35 – $45 / mo (often in rent)

• High-Speed WiFi: ~$55 – $65 / mo

• Divide bills by 2 if you have a roommate!

Now completing: Packet Page 2 • Sections 2, 3, and 4 Launchpad USA

Packet Page 3

Step 03: Entry Jobs & Paycheck Math

07 / 09

Target Job Posting

Find a real posting on Indeed.com with:

• Filter: "No Degree Required" & "Entry Level"

• Posted Hourly Wage (e.g. $17.00 – $19.50 / hr)

• Full-Time Hours: Target 35 – 40 hours per week

• Commute Route: Connect to your Page 2 rental!

The 3-Step Paycheck Formula

Calculate your true take-home pay:

Step A: Wage × Weekly Hrs × 4.33 = Gross

Step B: Gross × 0.18 = Taxes (~18%)

Step C: Gross − Taxes = Net Take-Home Pay

Now completing: Packet Page 3 • Job Profile, Paycheck Math & Commute Launchpad USA

Packet Page 4

Step 04: Budget Snapshot & 30% Rule

08 / 09

Monthly Cash Flow Ledger

Transfer your numbers into the monthly ledger:

+ Inflow: Net Take-Home Pay (from Page 3)

- Rent Share (Chosen Listing from Page 2)

- Utilities (Page 2) & Groceries ($250–$350)

- Transit Pass (Page 1) or Auto Fuel

- Recreation & Dining Out (Page 1)

= Net Monthly Surplus or Deficit

The 30% Rule & MIT Check

Test whether you are rent-burdened:

Formula: (Rent ÷ Gross Pay) × 100

≤ 30%: Safe & Affordable

> 30%: Rent Burdened (Switch to roommate!)

Compare wage to livingwage.mit.edu

Now completing: Packet Page 4 • Section 1 (Monthly Budget & Benchmark) Launchpad USA

Packet Page 4

Step 04: Launch Fund, Blueprint & Verdict

09 / 09

Total Startup Fund

Add: Move-in deposit (3x rent from Page 2) + Moving travel ($300–$600) + 1-month living buffer.

Target: ~$2,500 – $3,500

90-Day Action Plan

60 Days Out: Apply for jobs & save cash. 15 Days Out: Sign lease & pay 3x deposits. First 30 Days: Survive to paycheck #1.

Execution Timeline

The Final Pitch

Deliver your verdict: Is this city a realistic starter launchpad or a financial trap for a young adult?

Back it with hard data!

Complete Packet Page 4 • Prepare your 90-second relocation pitch! Launchpad USA Project

Provide exact summer highs, winter lows, snowfall totals, and median age data.

Housing & Utilities

HotPads, Zillow & Numbeo

Compare 3 distinct price tiers; look up municipal utility averages directly on Numbeo.

Wages, Taxes & Living Costs

Indeed, SmartAsset & MIT Tool

Find real entry job postings, calculate take-home pay after 18% taxes, and benchmark against living wages.

Teacher Facilitation Tips & Socratic Probing

The 3x Move-In Rule Clarity: Students often get bogged down looking for non-standard application fees. Emphasize that First + Last + Security (Rent × 3) represents the universal, realistic cash barrier to independent renting.

Connecting Rent to Wages: Push students: "If your monthly share of rent is $700, what hourly wage do you need just to keep housing under 30% of your gross income?" ($700 ÷ 0.30 ÷ 4.33 ÷ 40 ≈ $13.50/hr).

Oak Street Academy Educator Guide • Aligned to MA Curriculum Frameworks Page 1 of 3: Facilitator Notes & Pacing →

Oak Street Academy Faculty Curriculum Series

Exemplar Key Benchmark Student Work

Model Dossier: Columbus, Ohio

Answer Guide

Page 2 of 3

1 Step 01 Model: Climate, Transit, Recreation & Food Pop: 905k | Med Age: 32.5 | OH Tax: ~2.75%

Climate & Transit Metrics:

• Summer High: 85°F | Winter Low: 22°F | Snow: 28 in/yr

• Transit: COTA Bus System | Fare: $2.00 | Pass: $62/mo

• Walk Score: 42 (Citywide) • Car: Recommended (bus viable in core)

Recreation & Local Dining:

• Free Rec: Scioto Mile Riverfront Trail, Franklinton art walk.

• Food Culture: Ohio Buckeye candy, German Village pierogies.

• Budget Spot: Hoyo's Kitchen (Somali bowls ~$11) / Dirty Frank's ($6).

2 Step 02 Model: 3-Tier Housing Investigation Selected: Tier B ($675/mo share)

Tier A (Low Price):

Old North Shared 3BR: $525/mo/person. Catch: Shared 1 bath, street parking only, 1920s radiators.

Tier B (Mid Price) • SELECTED:

Clintonville 2BR Split ($1,350 total ÷ 2 = $675/mo). Advantage: On COTA Route 2, parking, basement laundry.

Tier C (High Price):

Short North Studio: $1,425/mo. Luxury: Rooftop deck, gym, quartz counters. Unaffordable for entry worker.

Move-In Cash (3x Rule): 1st Mo ($675) + Last Mo ($675) + Deposit ($675) = $2,025 Total Utilities Share (Numbeo): Electric ($65) + WiFi ($30) + Water ($25) = $120/mo

3 Step 03 Model: Employment & Wage Math Wage: $18.50 / hr (40 hrs/wk)

Gross Monthly:$3,204

Est. Taxes (18%):-$577

Net Take-Home Pay:+$2,627

Role: Warehouse Operations Specialist at Cardinal Health. Entry Req: High school diploma/GED. 2-Yr Pathway: Forklift Lead / Shift Supervisor ($24/hr). Commute: 25 min via COTA Route 2.

4 Step 04 Model: Cash Flow Ledger & Final Recommendation Approved Starter Market

+ Net Pay: $2,627

- Rent: $675 • Utils: $120 • Food: $320

- Transit Pass: $62 • Rec/Dining: $140 • Phone: $75

Net Margin: +$1,235 / month

• 30% Rule: $675 ÷ $3,204 = 21.1% (Extremely safe)

• MIT Living Wage: $17.18/hr vs $18.50 earned (> living wage)

• Launch Fund: $2,025 (3x deposit) + $350 travel + $1,300 buffer = $3,675

• Verdict: High potential starter city with robust surplus.

Oak Street Academy Educator Guide • Unit: Financial Literacy & Career Exploration Page 2 of 3: Model Exemplar →

Oak Street Academy Faculty Curriculum Series

Assessment & Equity Scoring & Scaffolds

Rubric & Differentiation Guide

Grading Tool

Page 3 of 3

Dossier & Relocation Pitch Scoring Rubric (100 Points Total)

Targeted Differentiation & Classroom Scaffolds

Scaffolding & Support (ELL / IEP / Striving Learners)

• Simplified 3x Move-In Rule: Eliminating application fee searching removes listing friction and lets students focus on the core math (Rent × 3).
• Pre-Set Utility Benchmarks: Provide the benchmark card ($120 electric, $40 water, $60 WiFi) for students who encounter paywalls or confusing municipal utility sites.
• Roommate Research Pairs: Allow students to pair up as future roommates, dividing the 3 housing tiers and splitting rent and utility math.

Extension & Challenge (Honors / Advanced Students)

• Vehicle Total Cost of Ownership: Require factoring in monthly auto financing ($275), young driver insurance ($185), and fuel ($120) if choosing car-dependent cities.
• Seasonal Utility Volatility: Calculate peak winter heating vs peak summer electric bills using local utility rate sheets.
• Investor Presentation Pitch: Deliver a 2-minute elevator pitch to convince a family member to loan them the $3,500 startup capital.

Oak Street Academy Educator Guide • Aligned to MA Curriculum Frameworks Page 3 of 3: Assessment Rubric & Differentiation Support

Tier B • Mid Price: Look for a standard 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom split in a solid, average neighborhood. Usually the ideal starter target.

Tier C • High Price: Search luxury high-rises or downtown lofts with gyms/pools to benchmark how high local rents can go.

Lock-In Decision: Select your chosen listing (Tier A or B recommended for starter workers). Record your monthly share of rent (Total Rent ÷ roommates).

2. Upfront Move-In Cash: The Standard "3x Rent" Rule

Skip application fee hunting: Do not spend time searching listings for move-in fees. Landlords in almost all US markets require three payments upfront:

1. First Month's Rent (= 1 mo)

2. Last Month's Rent (= 1 mo)

3. Security Deposit (= 1 mo)

→ Formula: Total Move-In Cash Required = Your Monthly Rent Share × 3. (Carries directly to Page 4 Launch Fund!)

3. Clear Directions: How to Find Average Utilities in Your Target City

• Search Numbeo: Go to numbeo.com/cost-of-living, enter your city, and scroll to "Utilities (Monthly)". Or Google "[City] average utilities numbeo".
• Standard City Benchmarks: If your city isn't listed, use these verified US starter averages:

Electricity/Heat: ~$100–$140/mo

Water/Trash: ~$35–$45/mo (often in rent)

High-Speed WiFi: ~$55–$65/mo

Renter's Ins.: ~$15–$20/mo

* Roommate Split: If sharing an apartment with a roommate, divide each utility bill by 2!

Oak Street Academy • Launchpad USA Project • Data Scout Reference Guide Turn over for Steps 03 & 04 (Jobs, Paycheck Math & Monthly Budget) →

Oak Street Academy Student Research Toolbelt

Research Field Guide Part 2 • Steps 03 & 04

Jobs, Paychecks, Budget & Bottom Line

Navigator

Page 2 of 2

Connecting Housing to Income: Now that you have calculated your housing and utility costs, find an entry-level job that generates enough take-home pay to afford them.

STEP 03 Worksheet Page 3: Job Market & Paycheck Reality Math

Indeed • Taxes

1. Finding a Real Entry-Level Job (indeed.com or snagajob.com) Packet Section 1

• Search Filters: Set city to your destination. Filter by: "No Degree Required" or "Entry Level".
• Information to Record: Company Name, Exact Job Title (e.g. Warehouse Associate, Medical Receptionist, Barista, Assembly Tech), Posted Hourly Wage (must be a specific $/hr), and Weekly Hours (target 35–40).
• Commute Check: Look at your rental from Page 2 and check if you can walk, take transit, or need to drive to this job location.

2. Exact Paycheck Math Formulas (smartasset.com/taxes) Packet Section 2

Step A: Gross Monthly

Hourly Wage × Weekly Hrs × 4.33

Example: $18 × 40 × 4.33 = $3,118 gross

Step B: Taxes (~18%)

Gross Monthly × 0.18

Example: $3,118 × 0.18 = -$561 taxes

Step C: Net Take-Home

Gross Monthly − Taxes

Example: $3,118 − $561 = $2,557 net

↑ Step C Net Take-Home Pay carries directly into Page 4 as your total monthly income!

STEP 04 Worksheet Page 4: Budget Snapshot, 30% Rule & Relocation Blueprint

The Bottom Line

1. Monthly Budget Ledger & 30% Housing Affordability Rule Packet Section 1

• Inflow: Copy Net Take-Home Pay from Step 3, Step C.
• Outflows: Transfer Rent (Page 2), Utilities (Page 2), Groceries ($250–$350), Transportation (Page 1 transit pass or gas), Recreation & Dining Out (Page 1 meal estimate × 8 = ~$100–$140), and Phone ($50–$75).
• Net Monthly Margin: Inflow − Outflows. Must be positive! (Surplus allows you to save and build wealth).
• 30% Housing Rule Formula: (Your Rent Share ÷ Gross Monthly Pay) × 100. If ≤ 30%, it is financially safe. If >30%, you are rent-burdened!

2. Total Launch Capital & Relocation Decision Packet Sections 2 & 4

• Startup Fund Formula: Add Move-In Deposits (Page 2: Rent Share × 3) + Moving Travel ($300–$600 flight or truck) + 1-Month Living Buffer (equal to 1 full month of living costs). This is the exact savings you must have in the bank before moving.
• Final Verdict: Check "Recommended Starter City" if your monthly cash flow is positive (surplus >$200) and rent is ≤30% of gross pay. Check "High-Risk" if rent creates a monthly deficit or car costs overwhelm entry wages.

Packet Submission Checklist: Have You Verified All 6 Steps?

[ ] 1. Climate & transit boxes completed

[ ] 2. 3 rental price tiers compared

[ ] 3. Move-in cash calculated (3x rent)

[ ] 4. Utilities found via Numbeo / benchmarks

[ ] 5. Entry wage & 18% taxes calculated

[ ] 6. Monthly budget & verdict supported

Oak Street Academy • Launchpad USA Project • Data Scout Reference Guide Complete Reference Guide • Ready to Scout Your City