Overview

Giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. Our programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.

WHY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT?

JA helps students realize that the education they are getting today will help them to have a bright future tomorrow. JA's unique, volunteer delivered programs, show them all of the possibilities that lay before them. They realize they can choose different paths; College? A specific trade? Start their own business? Through your participation as an organization or as an individual, these statistics below can begin to change in your community:

> 20% of U.S. students will not complete high school on time and earn a diploma.

> 49% of U.S. employers recognize that talent shortages impact their ability to serve clients and customers.

> 36% of Americans say that they have at some point in their lives felt their financial situation was out of control.

> 91% of millennials wish they had greater access to entrepreneurial education programs.

Junior Achievement's purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.  Giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. Focusing on the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century. Volunteers come from all walks of life, including: business people, college students, parents and retirees. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our organization.

Core Objectives

-          Work Readiness

-          Entrepreneurship

-          Financial Literacy

Outcomes

-          Students will succeed in a global economy

-          Youth will experience primary focus on one of JA's three pillars: entrepreneurship, financial literacy, or work and career readiness.

-          Youth learn in-class curriculum and culminate in a hands-on simulation experience that enables students to connect what they learn in school to the real world.

-          Youth experience volunteer-led, semester-long, experiential, blended learning courses designed to empower students to own their economic success.

-          https://youtu.be/QUf6r0lBYbQ

Measurement Tools

Junior Achievement is one of a few nonprofits to use independent, third-party evaluators to gauge the impact of its programs. Since 1993, independent evaluators have conducted studies on Junior Achievement's effectiveness. Findings prove that Junior Achievement has a positive impact in a number of critical areas. We invite you to read the Programs Evaluation Results.

Programs Offered
JA Our City®

JA Our City featuring Cha-Ching introduces students to financial literacy and learning objectives for third–grade social studies, including how people manage their money and the importance of economic exchange within a city. (Grade 3)

JA More than Money®

JA More than Money introduces students to financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and to social studies learning objectives that include money-management skills, goods and services, and global markets. Through hands-on activities and a JA cast of characters serving as symbols for financial literacy and entrepreneurship concepts, students will learn a practical approach to starting a business and making smart decisions about managing money. (Grades 3-5)

JA Personal Finance®

JA Personal Finance Blended Model allows students to experience the interrelationship between today’s financial decisions and future financial freedom. To achieve financial health and wellness, they learn about money-management strategies, including earning, employment and income, budgeting, savings, credit and debt, consumer protection, smart shopping, risk management, and investing. (Grades 9-12)

JA Finance Park®

JA Finance Park is a month-long program that introduces students to personal financial planning and career exploration. At the culmination of this teacher-led program, students visit JA Finance Park, a realistic on-site or virtual community, to put into practice what they've learned by developing and committing to a personal budget. (Grades 7-12)

JA Company Program®

JA Company Program unlocks the innate ability in high school students to fill a need or solve a problem in their community by launching a business venture and unleashing their entrepreneurial spirit. The program focuses on Company Ops, the majority of meeting time, where students build and manage their business. Meeting-specific, student-friendly materials and resources increase student interaction and emphasize JA’s experiential approach to learning. (Grades 9-12)