Junior Achievement Usa

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH (JA NORTH) PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLSET AND MINDSET TO BUILD THRIVING COMMUNITIES. OUR PROGRAMMING IS CRITICAL IN ADDRESSING THE SKILLS, WEALTH, AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING. JA NORTH FOCUSES ON EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO BUILD FINANCIAL STABILITY, CONNECT TO REAL LIFE SKILLS AND CAREERS, AND IGNITE YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT HELPS STUDENTS MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL AND HOW IT CAN BE APPLIED IN THE REAL WORLD, THEREBY ENHANCING THE RELEVANCE OF THEIR CLASSROOM LEARNING AND EQUIPPING THEM TO BE THE FUTURE LEADERS OUR COMMUNITIES NEED TO THRIVE. OUR RELEVANT, EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO SCHOOLS AND ALIGN WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL CURRICULUM STANDARDS. DURING THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR, WE PARTNERED WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND 4,568 VOLUNTEERS TO TEACH OUR CURRICULUM TO 81,024 LOCAL STUDENTS IN MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND WESTERN WISCONSIN.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT TRADITIONAL IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS:JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLSET AND MINDSET TO BUILD THRIVING COMMUNITIES. THROUGH FINANCIAL LITERACY, CAREER READINESS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMMING, WE PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE SKILLS, WEALTH, AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH OFFERS PROGRAMMING TO K-12 STUDENTS ACROSS ITS REGION WHICH HELPS STUDENTS BUILD FINANCIAL STABILITY, CONNECTS THEM TO REAL LIFE SKILLS AND CAREERS, IGNITES YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND CULTIVATES ENGAGED COMMUNITY LEADERS. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WHAT THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL AND HOW IT CAN BE APPLIED IN THE REAL WORLD. THIS APPROACH ENHANCES THE RELEVANCE OF THEIR CLASSROOM LEARNING AND DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF EDUCATION IN FUTURE ENDEAVORS. PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS ARE GENERALLY AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS LOCATED IN A SPONSORED SCHOOL DISTRICT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CAPSTONE PROGRAMS. DURING THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR, WE SERVED 81,024 STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. TO ACHIEVE THIS REACH, WE IMPLEMENT CLASSROOM PROGRAMMING, ON-SITE LEARNING LABS, AND VIRTUAL OPTIONS TO MEET STUDENTS WHERE AND HOW THEY'RE LEARNING.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 ITS 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 THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT TEACHERS BY IMPLEMENTING LESSONS IN CLASSROOMS, WHICH HELPS BUILD CONNECTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ENHANCES 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.

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 A GLOBAL ECONOMY.JA FINANCE PARK - TAKING STUDENTS INTO THE WORLD OF BUSINESS, JA FINANCE PARK INTRODUCES PERSONAL PLANNING AND CAREER EXPLORATION. IT 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 YOUR FUTURE.WE MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY'RE AT. OUR NEW VIRTUAL INNOVATIONS WILL REMAIN PART OF OUR ON-GOING 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 OUR REMOTE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, 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, JA FINANCE PARK VIRTUAL, JA LAUNCHU! VIRTUAL COHORTS AND THE JA INSPIRE CAREER FAIR.

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. TWO HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS PROGRAMMING INCLUDE JA COMPANY PROGRAM AND JA LAUNCHU!.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 BUSINESS AS PART OF A SCHOOL-BASED ORGANIZATION, CLUB, OR IN AN 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 BUSINESS. HOSTED AND ADVISED BY ENTREPRENEURS AND CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS GAIN INSIGHT AROUND LARGER CONCEPTS, SUCH AS MARKET RESEARCH, BUSINESS LEADERSHIP, AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT WHILE DEVELOPING VALUABLE SKILLSJA LAUNCHU! HELPS CULTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF JA NORTH'S ENTREPRENEUR IN RESIDENCES, PARTICIPANTS WILL LAUNCH THEIR OWN COMPANY, COMPETE IN START-UP COMPETITIONS, AND NETWORK WITH LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS. BY COMING ON-SITE TO THE INNOVATION INCUBATOR, JA LAUNCHU! STUDENTS LEARN FROM REAL WORLD ENTREPRENEURS, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH A COHORT, AND HAVE ACCESS TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING AS THEY BUILD THEIR BUSINESSES. STUDENTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE COLLEGE CREDIT THROUGH METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY (11TH AND 12TH GRADERS ONLY) AND, UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM (80% PARTICIPATION REQUIRED), WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A $500 STIPEND TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THEIR START-UP.