Junior Achievement Of Central Florida Foundation Inc

RAISES/MAINTAINS FUNDS FOR JACF, WHICH PROVIDES K-12 ED. PROGRAMMING FOUNDED ON FREE ENTERPRISE.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY; ENVISIONING A WORLD IN WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE SKILLSET AND MINDSET TO BUILD THRIVING COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORK READINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR STUDENTS IN ORANGE, OSCEOLA, VOLUSIA AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES. WITHIN THESE COUNTIES, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WORKS WITH AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON TITLE I SCHOOLS. TITLE I SCHOOLS SERVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ACADEMIC PROGRESS, AND STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THESE SCHOOLS ARE OFTEN HEAVILY MINORITY AND INCLUDE MIGRANT FAMILY STUDENTS, STUDENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, HOMELESS STUDENTS, AND AT-RISK STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH THE NEGATIVE AND GENERATIONAL EFFECTS OF POVERTY. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS SERVED MORE THAN 2,000,000 STUDENTS SINCE ITS INCEPTION. DURING THE 2021/22 SCHOOL YEAR, THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC CONTINUE TO BRING CHALLENGES WITH BUILDING ON STUDENT LEARNING LOSS. IN SPITE OF THOSE CHALLENGES, JA SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDED MORE THAN 35,000 CENTRAL FLORIDA STUDENTS WITH NEARLY A MILLION HOURS OF INSTRUCTION DESIGNED TO INFLUENCE THEIR CAREER READINESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET, AND THEIR FINANCIAL CAPABILITY OVER TIME. NOTABLE PROGRAM OUTCOMES FROM THIS PAST YEAR INCLUDE:- NEARLY 481,000 HOURS OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION TO ALMOST 20,000 GRADUATING SENIORS THROUGH THE JA FINANCE PARK VIRTUAL PROGRAM. THIS 25-HOUR PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS BECOME FINANCIALLY CAPABLE AS THEY EMBARK ON THE "REAL WORLD" OF RESPONSIBILITIES THAT AWAIT THEM AFTER GRADUATION. THROUGH A NEW DIGITAL FORMAT, TEACHERS CAN NOW DELIVER EVERY LESSON FOR STUDENTS LEARNING IN CLASS OR DIRECTLY FROM HOME AT THE SAME TIME. JACF WORKS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERS, CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM JA FINANCE PARK VIRTUAL AND ITS JA FPV STUDENT SIMULATION. USING AN AVATAR WITH AN ASSIGNED LIFE SCENARIO, STUDENTS APPLY THEIR NEW KNOWLEDGE AND USE THE JA FPV SIMULATION TO BUDGET FOR VARIOUS LIFE STAGES, SO THEY CAN IDENTIFY THEIR CHANGING NEEDS AND WANTS THROUGH RETIREMENT. - PARTICIPATION OF OVER 5,600 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AN INNOVATIVE, CAREER EXPLORATION LEARNING EXPERIENCE, REDESIGNED FOR THE REMOTE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.- ENROLLMENT OF 781 STUDENTS IN THE 3DE PROGRAM ACROSS OAK RIDGE AND OSCEOLA HIGH SCHOOLS. THESE STUDENTS WERE PARTNERED WITH 150 BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS TO DEVELOP SKILLS IN COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION AND CRITICAL THINKING. OVER THE ALMOST 700 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE, THE STUDENTS RECEIVED BUSINESS COACHING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS TO REAL-WORLD BUSINESS PROBLEMS PROVIDED BY THOSE SAME BUSINESS PARTNERS. THE 2022/23 SCHOOL YEAR WILL FEATURE THE FIRST SENIOR CLASS AT BOTH SCHOOLS IN ADDITION TO THE LAUNCH OF OUR THIRD SCHOOL, OCOEE HIGH SCHOOL.