This program is for students who are in 6th through 8th grade.

Junior Achievement (JA) Economics for Success®, a school-based program, is designed to help students understand the importance of choosing a suitable career and spending, saving, and investing their money carefully.

No peer-reviewed publications evaluating the effectiveness of this program were located.

In the JA Economics for Success program, participants are encouraged to explore education and career options based on their strengths, skills, interests, and principles. The program is delivered through six volunteer-led sessions. Topics discussed are as follows:

• Mirror, Mirror - Examine the concept of self-knowledge, including personal skills, interests, and values and consider careers of interest;
• Be a Success - Understand how to set goals for one’s financial future and examine the connection between personal finance, education, and career options;
• Keeping your Balance – Realize how different jobs provide different monthly salaries, and evaluate opportunity costs when making budget decisions;
• Savvy Shopper – Explore how consumers pay for different goods and services, and examine advantages and disadvantages of using credit and debit cards;
• Keeping Score - Study how credit scores are determined, and understand the consequences of a positive and negative credit report; and
• What's the Risk? – Realize that life involves risks and learn how insurance and personal responsibility can help reduce financial consequences of a loss or injury.

Program skills utilized during activities include organizing and analyzing information, reading for understanding, thinking critically, making decisions, following directions, interpreting data, making math calculations, strengthening oral and written communication, problem-solving, role-playing, practicing self-assessment, and working in groups.

In 2014 to 2015, the parent program, JA USA, reached more than 4 million U.S. students, over 21,000 schools, and more than 201,000 classes and worked with more than 218,000 volunteers in all 50 states. No previous use information was available for the JA Economics for Success program.

Volunteers are trained, at no cost, through local JA offices for approximately 90 minutes; however, time varies depending on program(s) being delivered.

Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting volunteers and making time to implement the classroom activities.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing JA Economics for Success, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you! Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

The program consists of six 45-minute lessons with extended learning opportunities available to enhance and extend core activities.

Materials required to implement the program are free and include activity plans and materials for 32 students.

To move JA Economics for Success to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185     Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact Junior Achievement USA by mail One Education Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, phone 1-719-540-8000, email newmedia@ja.org, or visit https://jausa.ja.org/about/contact-us

https://jausa.ja.org/programs/ja-economics-for-success