JA Programs

JA BizTown combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to a simulated town. This popular learning experience allows elementary school students to visit BizTown, where they become Citizens in a simulated town. They will have the opportunity to operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, and vote for the mayor. Students can connect the dots between what they learn in school and the real world.

JA BizTown is recommended for grades 4–6. The learning experience is a JA Capstone program and is available for classroom-based, self-guided, or remote classroom implementation. It includes 12 teacher-led sessions before the visit to BizTown and one session following the simulation, with a 4–5 hour visit to a hands-on simulated community or a virtual simulation.

In JA Career Speaker Series, a volunteer guest speaker visits the classroom and shares information about his or her career, work, and education experience. The speaker may bring props, work samples, or other visuals to help engage students.

Following participation in the learning experience, students will be able to:

• Identify skills and interests.
• Recognize career clusters.
• Practice active listening skills.

JA Career Speaker Series is part of the JA Work and Career Readiness Pathway and can be placed in grades K–12. The learning experience is available in classroom based, remote synchronous, recorded video, or after-school/out-of-school Implementation. Activities and implementation design vary based on grade level.

JA teachers and volunteers are encouraged, as part of this learning experience, to utilize the resources available in JA Connect® Learning Pathways, located at connect.ja.org. This self-guided experience includes interactives, JA Here to Career™, games and apps for student use.

JA Learning Experiences support national and state standards in reading, mathematics, social studies, and work and career readiness. See below for more information on alignment with national and state standards.

Junior Achievement USA gratefully acknowledges Citi Foundation for its dedication to the development and implementation of JA Career Speaker Series.

JA Economics for Success reveals the heart of a successful economic life: choosing the right career and managing money properly. JA Economics for Success is part of the JA Financial Literacy and JA Work and Career Readiness Pathways and is recommended for middle school students.

JA Economics for Success is recommended for grades 6 to 8. This volunteer-led, kit-based program is available for classroom-based and remote classroom implementation. It includes six 45-minute sessions, with additional extended learning activities and optional digital assets offered throughout.

As part of this program, JA teachers and volunteers are encouraged to utilize the resources available in JA Connect™ Learning Pathways, located at connect.ja.org. This self-guided experience includes interactives, JA Digital Career Book, games, and apps for student use.

JA Finance Park is Junior Achievement’s capstone program for personal financial planning and career exploration. This program consists of a curriculum and a simulation, helping students build a foundation on which they can make intelligent financial decisions that last a lifetime, including decisions related to income, expenses, savings, and credit. This program will allow students to engage with volunteers and practice what they’ve learned by developing a personal budget.

JA Finance Park is recommended for 8th to 12th grades. A minimum of 13 lessons is offered in a traditional classroom presentation format, and a project-based learning (PBL) format is available for high school delivery. Both traditional and PBL formats provide educators with a delivery method that best meets their students' needs. JA Finance Park (Entry Level) culminates in a hands-on budgeting simulation implemented at a JA Finance Park facility, mobile unit, or virtual site.

As part of this program, JA teachers and volunteers are encouraged to use the resources available in JA Connect™ Learning Pathways, located at https connect.ja.org. This self-guided experience includes interactives, JA Digital Career Book™, and games and apps for student use.

JA Global Marketplace Blended Model introduces students to the global marketplace and how countries buy and sell from each other. By completing this program, students understand producers and consumers in the interconnected global market. They analyze the similarities and differences among countries and the effects of free enterprise.

JA Global Marketplace is recommended for 6th to 12th grades. The program is blended, available in classroom-based and remote synchronous implementation. It consists of seven 45-minute sessions and offers two implementation options:

• Basic implementation includes Sessions One–Six delivered by the volunteer.
• Advanced implementation includes Sessions One–Six delivered by the volunteer and Session Seven delivered by the teacher or volunteer.

JA Inspire is more than a career fair: It brings together the business community and local schools and is designed to help launch middle school students into their future—high school, college, and careers beyond. During the JA Inspire expo, students participate in hands-on activities, often using equipment or tools used on a job. The multi-hour experience is configurable to align with local industry and career opportunities.

JA Inspire is recommended for 6th to 8th grades. It’s a volunteer-led and educator-led program that can be classroom-based, remote-live, or after-school. The program is both classroom and event-based and consists of three segments:  in-class sessions presented by the classroom teacher, the hands-on JA Inspire expo, and an in-class debrief.

This program can be combined with JA Inspire Virtual to meet the needs of educators, students, and volunteers.

JA It's My Future offers students practical information to help prepare them for the working world. Students develop the personal branding and job-hunting skills needed to earn a job.

JA Inspire is recommended for 6th to 8th grades. It’s a volunteer-led program that can be implemented as a classroom-based, remote synchronous, or after-school program. It includes six 45-minute sessions, with additional extended learning activities and optional digital assets offered throughout.

JA It's My Job (Soft Skills) helps students understand the value of professional communication and soft skills, making them more employable to future employers across multiple career clusters. Lessons focus on social and soft skill competencies that relate real-life experiences to job skills and prepare students for their future careers. Topics include communication and presentation skills, manners, listening skills, and cell phone etiquette.

JA Inspire is recommended for 6th to 12th grades. It’s a volunteer-led program that can be implemented as a classroom-based, remote synchronous, or after-school program.  It includes six 45-minute sessions, with additional extended learning activities and optional digital assets offered throughout. The minimum delivery is three sessions; the number and topic of modules can be determined based on student needs and available time.