Junior Achievement North

Junior Achievement traditional in-school programs:elementary school programs - during elementary school programs, students build a solid foundation and learn basic concepts of business, finance, community engagement and the importance of education. Through experiential lessons and connecting with community volunteers, Junior Achievement brings learning to life through engaging lessons for students.middle school programs - in middle school, students build on concepts learned in elementary school, and lessons are designed to build foundational financial skills, expose students to a variety of career opportunities, and cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit. The programs supplement standard school curricula and build communication skills essential to success outside of school. Volunteers support teachers by implementing classroom lessons, which helps build community connections and enhance learning.high school programs- Junior Achievement's high school programs help students make informed, intelligent decisions about their future, and foster skills that will be valuable as they graduate from high school and take their next steps. Ja job shadow connects students with local businesses to help them explore potential career paths and gain exposure to industries in their area. Through this experiential opportunity, students can see firsthand what it's like to interact in a professional environment, learn what skills companies are looking for in candidates, make connections to business leaders, discover new career paths, and prepare to be part of the future workforce our communities need.

Entrepreneurial programming:junior Achievement's entrepreneurial programs help develop their own entrepreneurial skills that will be valuable as they graduate from high school and take their next steps. The ja company program is a business and leadership experience for 9th-12th grade students. Students are encouraged to use innovative thinking to create, market, and operate their own businesses as part of a school-based organization, club, or after-school setting. Through this in-depth leadership and entrepreneurship program, students gain real-world business experience by working in teams to conceptualize, capitalize, and manage their own small businesses. Hosted and advised by entrepreneurs and volunteers, students gain insight into larger concepts like market research, business leadership, and financial management while developing valuable career and leadership skills.

Capstone programs bring learning to life for students. These programs are centered on a learning laboratory experience that provides a tangible way for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom while onsite in the Junior Achievement learning labs. Capstone programs include ja biztown and ja finance park.ja biztown - elementary and middle school students are not old enough to drive, work, vote or be a ceo. But that doesn't stop them from operating banks, managing restaurants, writing checks, and voting for mayor at ja biztown. The program combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to this fully interactive simulated lab. Ja biztown helps students connect the dots between what they learn in school and the real world. Through daily lessons, interactive activities, and participation in this simulated community designed to support differentiated learning styles, students develop a strong understanding of the relationship between what they learn in school and their successful participation in an economy and community.ja finance park - students practice planning for a successful future during this learning simulation that covers critical personal finance concepts and career exploration. Ja finance park is designed to be taught to middle school and high school students by classroom teachers. At the culmination of this program, students visit ja finance park in a virtual simulation or an on-site day to put into practice what they have learned about economic options and the principles of budgeting. Assisted by their teachers and a staff of trained volunteers, students explore budgeting and how educational and financial decisions can impact their future.we meet students where they're at. The virtual innovations we started developing in 2020 will remain part of our ongoing programming so we can continue to reach a broader group of students within the region. We have leveraged virtual content to meet the continual needs of remote learning opportunities, which means students who couldn't before receive classroom programming or make it to our learning labs now have access to those experiences, including virtual volunteer videos, ja biztown online adventures, and ja finance park virtual.