Junior Achievement’s programs span grades K-12, with age-appropriate curricula centered around the three crucial subject areas of Entrepreneurship, Workforce Preparation, and Financial Literacy.  Junior Achievement programs bring the global economic system to life in the classroom and teach young people the importance of staying in school.   JA programs add the fourth "R" to education - relevance.  All JA programs correlate to state standards. JA Volunteer Mentors The secret to the tremendous impact of JA’s programs on young lives is that they are delivered through Volunteer Mentors who season JA’s unique interactive curriculum with real-world experience. JA’s Volunteer Mentors are professionals from the community who put a face on success for students, making vital, lifelong contributions to their financial literacy, self-reliance, and self-esteem.    JA partners business volunteers with local classrooms, where JA Volunteers facilitate JA lessons. JA provides the lesson plans and materials. As a JA Volunteer, you will get a kit filled with fun, colorful, interactive activities; all materials needed for you and the students are included. You will receive program training from a Junior Achievement representative and be given ideas on how to have even more fun with the program! Teach 5-10 lessons of 30-60 minutes each (depending on the grade level/program chosen). JA Volunteers set a schedule with the teacher that works for both of you.   As a JA Volunteer Mentor, you can Inspire students to take a look into the future and see what they can achieve by sharing your own business and educational experiences. Become a JA Volunteer Mentor Today!

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Elementary Grade Programs The Junior Achievement Elementary School Program includes seven grade-specific themes for kindergarten through sixth-grade students. Junior Achievement's program teaches elementary school students the basic concepts of business and economics and shows children how education is relevant to the workplace. The sequential activities build on studies from each preceding grade and prepare students for secondary school and lifelong learning.  The seven program themes also teach students that people assume roles as individuals, consumers, and workers in an expanding cultural environment that extends from the self and family to global relations.    JA's Elementary Grades Programs include: Ourselves® introduces the economic roles of individuals Our Families® discusses the role of families in the local economy Our Community® examines responsibilities and economic opportunities available within a community Our City® considers economic development, local businesses, and career opportunities Our Region® features the economic/business resources found in state and regional economies Our Nation® studies U.S. business operations and economic issues JA Dollars & $ense®  encompasses economics and business curriculum for students in grades three through five Become a JA Volunteer Mentor Today!

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Middle Grade Programs Junior Achievement has several highly effective programs for middle grades and junior high school students that reinforce the value of education and teach students about the future economic benefits of staying in school. Students will be introduced to many economic concepts and useful facts about entrepreneurship, personal finance and the global marketplace.   The middle grades programs build on lessons the students learned in Junior Achievement's Elementary School Program and help teens make difficult decisions about how to best prepare for their educational and professional future. The programs supplement standard social studies/history curricula and develop communication skills that are essential to success in the business world. All programs consist of six 45- to 60-minutes volunteer-led activities.   Junior Achievement's Middle Grades Programs include: JA ECONOMICS FOR SUCCESS ® explores personal finance and students' education and career options based on their skills, interests, and values. It is designed around the following key topics: choices and self-knowledge, decision making, education, and career options, budgeting, credits, and financial risk. JA GLOBAL MARKETPLACE ® provides practical information about the global economy and its effect on students' daily lives. It defines world trade by identifying the following economic key aspects: international markets, cultural exchange, international law, and the flow of information, human resources and financial capital.   JA AMERICA WORKS ® focuses on the impact of business and entrepreneurship on the economic development of the United States during the 1800s. It is designed around six key themes: Immigration, Agriculture, National Resources, Transportation, Communication and Industrialization. JA ITS MY BUSINESS ® meets the after-school programming needs of a diverse group of students by providing engaging, academically enriching, and experiential learning sessions in entrepreneurship education. Students learn skills that support positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations. JA FINANCE PARK ® offers students personal financial management and career exploration through classroom instruction and active participation in a simulated community. The curriculum is designed as an integrated unit, preparing students for an all-day visit to JA Finance Park. JA's unique delivery system provides the training, materials, and support necessary to ensure a positive experience for the classroom volunteer, teacher and student.   Become a JA Volunteer Mentor Today!

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High School Programs As high school students begin to position themselves for the future, there are many unanswered questions about what lies ahead. The Junior Achievement (JA) High School Programs help students make informed, intelligent decisions about their future, and foster skilled that will be highly useful in the business worlds.  Most of JA's high school programs consist of six to eight 50-minute volunteer-led sessions. Students explore various topics such as business, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics, financial literacy, and work force readiness. The volunteers bring real-life business experience and guidance into the classroom at a time that represents an essential crossroads for young people.  Junior Achievement's High School Programs include:  JA COMPANY PROGRAM® is an in-school or after-school curriculum that guides students in developing entrepreneurial skills as they create and operate their own business. Students participate in interactive activities, student-led discussions, and business planning. This program consists of 12 sessions, lasting two hours/session. JA ECONOMICS® is a teacher-led one-semester course that examines the fundamental concepts of micro-,macro-, and international economics.  JA TITAN® is an internet or CD-ROM based business simulation where students learn how to make price, production, capital investment, marketing, and research and development decisions for a fictional Holo-generator product. JA TITAN can be run in conjunction with JA Economics or as a stand-alone program. JA PRESENTS: THE NEFE High School Financial Planning Program® introduces students to the importance of making wise financial decisions. The program demonstrates the importance of planning, goal-setting, and thoughtful decision-making within the context of personal financial decisions.   JA BANKS IN ACTION® teaches high school students the principles of the banking industry, and introduces them to the challenges of successfully operating a bank in a competitive environment. JA SUCCESS SKILLS® focuses on developing students' interpersonal effectiveness. Students examine how their interpersonal skill match careers of interest to them, develop resumes, and practice their skills in mock job interviews. JA CAREERS WITH A PURPOSE® introduces students to the importance of seeking careers that help them realize their life potential and noble purpose. JA JOB SHADOW® introduces students to careers through a one-day, on-site orientation in the workplace. JA's unique delivery system provides the orientation, materials, and support necessary to ensure a positive experience for the classroom volunteer, teacher and student.  Become a JA Volunteer Mentor Today!

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For more information on Junior Achievement Programs, please visit, www.ja.org