WHAT IS JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT?

Actually, we are now part of JA Worldwide, which is the world's largest and fastest-growing non-profit economic education organization. Our programs are taught  to over 7.5 million students by classroom volunteers from the business community in both the U.S. and 111 countries worldwide.

MISSION:

Junior Achievement educates and inspires young people to value the American free enterprise system, entrepreneurship, and to understand business and economics, and to be workforce ready.

This is our 24th year of providing excellence in economic education. With over 20,000 Teachers and Volunteers since 1984 our programs have reached more than 304,000 students!  In the past 3 years we served over 110,000 students, K-12. Dr. Johnson, Superintendent of PBC Schools has challenged JA to reach 90,000 students annually by 2010/11.

Junior Achievement's programs span grades K-12, with age-appropriate curricula designed to teach elementary students about their roles as individuals, workers and consumers and to prepare middle grade and high school students for key economic and workforce issues they will face.

In addition to bringing the free enterprise system to life in the classroom, Junior Achievement programs teach youngsters the importance of staying in school. The organization also offers programs for youngsters who may have difficulty graduating from high school.

WHO DOES IT REACH:

We reach almost 30,000 young people in Palm Beach, Martin and Hendry Counties with junior Achievement programs each year.  With more than 23 years of excellence in economic education we have served the needs of more than 350,000 students since 1984 with the help of more than 20,000 Teachers and Volunteers.

Each Junior Achievement recruits more than 1,200 classroom volunteers from all walks of life and include business people, parents, college and high school students, government workers, and retirees. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of the organization, bringing the 'real world' of business into classrooms.

A recent study on JA's educational impact by the Western Institute of Research and Evaluation found that at each grade level, elementary school JA students had far greater comprehension of economics principles than comparison group students. Among 6th graders, JA students scored 27% higher than non-participants in basic economic understanding.

On the high school level, a recent study by Formative Evaluation Research Association found that JA students significantly surpassed their peers in the Test for Economic Literacy.

FUNDING:

Junior Achievement programs are made possible through local support from businesses, individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations. Program funding is also raised through Junior Achievement's special events including the Annual Bowling Classic, Business Hall of Fame, and the Sheriff Ric Bradshaw Leadership Golf Classic.