Junior Achievement Delivers on Economic Education!

In studies of Junior Achievement’s K-12 programs by external evaluators, JA students demonstrate a significant understanding of economics and business knowledge and an enhanced desire to stay in school and pursue a career in business–-particularly those exposed to programs at consecutive grade levels.

Elementary School Program Sequential Curricula Pays Off!

From 1993-2003, external evaluators have conducted comprehensive evaluations of Junior Achievement’s Elementary School Program. Results show that JA’s impact on student knowledge, attitudes, and achievement has been consistently positive and significant.

Students participating in the elementary school evaluation studies all attended urban schools in some of the nation’s major cities, representing a diverse ethnic and racial population.

The cumulative impact of the program is significant ...

Longitudinal studies show that students participating in the elementary program over consecutive years acquire significantly more economics and business knowledge than those taking Junior Achievement for the first time.

Even a single exposure to a JA program makes a difference ...

Students at all grade levels who participated in the Elementary School Program have greater comprehension of real world concepts and skills than their non-participating peers.

Educators value JA programs ...

• Teachers have high praise for the program. They rated it 9.4 on a 10-point scale. Ninety-nine percent also say their students enjoyed JA.
• Teachers credit volunteers as a major factor for the positive impact of JA, saying that volunteers bring an outside business perspective into the classroom and serve as positive role models for students.

Middle Grades Programs - A History of Performance!

External evaluators found positive results from the Middle Grades Programs for students in grades seven through nine. JA students consistently outperformed their non-participating peers in each program at all three grade levels.

JA evaluation studies have tracked performance levels among 772 Personal Economics® students, 868 Enterprise in Action® students, and 824 The International Marketplace™ students in five, geographically diverse areas.

JA students outperformed their peers ...

• In all three middle grades programs, JA students scored significantly higher on objective-referenced tests than their non-participating peers.
• Enterprise in Action® students scored 17.5 percent higher than non-participating peers, and The International Marketplace™ students scored 14 percent higher.

Other research shows that JA ...*

• helps students understand the importance of staying in school
• encourages students to become entrepreneurs
• improves school attendance and behavior

* These findings derive from a study of Project Business, Junior Achievement’s original junior high school program, which was replaced by Personal Economics®, Enterprise in Action®, and The International Marketplace™

High School Programs - JA Students Have the Competitive Advantage!

External evaluators completed comprehensive studies of JA’s High School Programs from 2000-2003. Results show that JA programs have a significant impact on student attitudes and learning.

JA Programs Increase Economic Understanding

After completing the JA Company Program, students scored 10.6 percent higher on objective-referenced tests that measure understanding of economic concepts. JA Economics and JA Success Skills students scored 8.1 percent higher.

JA Programs Improve Critical-thinking Skills

Critical thinking assessments revealed that JA’s High School Programs help students use higher levels of abstract thinking to synthesize and integrate information. After completing JA Economics, students scored 18.6 percent higher on alternative assessment tests. JA Company Program and JA Success Skills students scored 10.9 percent and 13 percent higher, respectively. 

Educators and consultants agree… JA students rate higher than non-participating students on:

• Succeeding at a job
• Acting professionally
• Taking on leadership roles
• Resolving conflicts
• Building confidence

Additional Program Evaluations

• JA Afterschool™
• JA Job Shadow
• JA Longitudinal Summary
• JA Titan
• Your Feedback

Get Involved

Junior Achievement welcomes the opportunity to discuss how you can participate in educating tomorrow’s work force. Just send us an e-mail at newmedia@ja.org with the location of your city and state and we’ll have someone contact you.