JA More than Money™

JA More than Money meets the after-school programming needs of a diverse group of third through fifth grade students by providing engaging, academically enriching, experiential activities in economic education. Students learn personal financial and business skills through innovative activities focusing on earning, spending, and saving money.

Students also identify personal skills and interests and learn to connect them to business/career opportunities. Working individually and in groups, students make financial decisions and learn to identify businesses they can start or jobs they can do to earn money. Students play a game that reinforces the money management skills learned throughout the program.

JA More than Money recently concluded its pilot phase. The program was presented in more than 50 after-school settings at 12 JA areas of varying sizes around the nation. Caliber Associates, Inc., an independent evaluation firm, evaluated the pilot program. JA More than Money was released in the summer of 2005.

Program Information.

Here's what students and parents are saying after experiencing JA More than Money...

Students:

• “I learned that we need to be responsible.”

• “I can do anything I put my mind to.”

• “I learned that you should be helpful and never selfish.”

• “I learned that I’m unique in my own way.”

Parents

• “They are more aware of the value of money…the value of saving and not spending so much.”

• “I believe this program made them more aware of daily life and how money is handled.”

• “I asked my child what she enjoyed most and she said ‘we got snacks at the beginning.’ She then proceeded to tell me about the difference between a savings account and a checking account.”