Junior Achievement is a non-profit youth organization that provides financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship education programs for K-12 students. Its programs aim to prepare young people for financial success and instill key skills like budgeting, saving, investing, and starting a business. Junior Achievement reaches nearly 5 million students per year across the United States. Research shows that JA programs can positively impact students’ financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. An investment in JA can pay valuable dividends by empowering the next generation with money management skills.
JA teaches practical money skills and financial literacy
Junior Achievement offers a range of programs tailored to different age groups that teach essential financial concepts. For elementary school students, JA introduces basic money skills like identifying coins and bills, making change, and developing a budget. Middle school programs focus on earning money, saving, spending wisely, and investing for the future. High school students learn about credit management, financial goal-setting, investments, and insurance. Across all levels, JA’s hands-on activities and project-based learning make financial literacy engaging and memorable.
JA provides career skills and cultivates an entrepreneurial spirit
In addition to financial education, Junior Achievement helps students explore career interests and develop workforce readiness skills. Starting in elementary school, JA career exploration programs expose students to a variety of job options and emphasize the link between education and earning potential. For high schoolers, JA job shadowing and internship initiatives offer firsthand workplace experience. JA also runs business simulation programs at all grade levels where students develop and pitch product ideas, create marketing plans, and manage budgets.
JA has demonstrated impact on financial knowledge and behaviors
Studies show Junior Achievement programs positively affect students’ financial literacy and money management habits. A 2017 JA USA impact report found that JA middle school participants scored significantly higher on assessments of financial literacy skills compared to non-participants. High school students who completed JA programs also reported substantially higher financial knowledge and confidence in money management. Beyond test scores, JA alumni exhibit real-world financial behaviors like budgeting, saving, and investing at higher rates than those who did not participate.
In sum, Junior Achievement provides high-impact financial literacy and career readiness education that equips youth with essential money skills. Investing in JA programming creates lasting benefits for students’ financial capability and future success.