Frequently Asked Questions

I thought Junior Achievement was for high school students after school.

       Not any more. To keep pace with the changing world, JA now offers age-appropriate programs to students in kindergarten through high school. Each program is presented by a volunteer consultant from the community, generally business people or retirees, and occasionally a professional who has a child in a particular class. These consultants lend their experience to presenting creative and fun activities, geared specifically for each grade level, that teach students about economics, a variety of careers and the importance of staying in school. For brief descriptions of the individual programs, please see our Program Descriptions page. If you think you might be interested in becoming a consultant, you can read more about it on our Volunteer page.

Is Junior Achievement a United Way Agency?

       No, JA does not participate in any united campaigns or recieve funding from state or local tax dollars. Instead, JA programs are primarily funded by businesses, foundations, community service organizations, and individuals who have seen its results with students of all ages. More information on JA funding, including a link to our Investor Circles and our Wish List for in kind donations, can be found on our Business & JA and Donation Options pages.

Do schools contribute?

        Besides opening their doors for students to participate, schools realize the effectiveness and value of Junior Achievement's programs and those with the funding available help support the program financially.

What does my money support?

       Your contribution helps to provide recruitment, training, monitoring and evaluating of business consultants who present a series of hands-on activities in the classroom. Materials are supplied one per student and they include such items as student workbooks, posters, city maps, etc. There are guides and supplemental materials for teachers to tie in math, science, reading, and writing skills with the Junior Achievement activities. The materials supplement the social studies curriculum and help to meet state requirements for economic education in the schools. For more about your local JA office, please see the About JA of Michiana section of our website.

How many students are involved in the program?

       Annually, we reached over 8,000 students in Berrien and Cass Counties in Michigan, and St. Joseph, Marshall, and Elkart Counties in Indiana. Our goal is that someday every child in our service area will have the opportunity to participate in Junior Achievement. For a list of schools currently participating in JA, please see our Participating Schools and Current Program Schedule pages.

Does JA REALLY make a difference?

       We now know that students participating in Junior Achievement learn economical concepts and understand them more deeply than students not participating in the program. They are also able to apply these concepts to everyday decision making. They benefit from the business consultants who role model the work ethic, stress the importance of staying in school and teach teamwork and decision making skills as they present these hands-on activities. The best measure, though, comes directly from:

Teachers:

• "I as a bit concerned that first graders would be too young to benefit from the presentations. This program was geared appropriately for our grade level. Thank you so much!"

• "Our consultant was a mother of one of our students and a local business owner. The kids see her around school and at the store on a regular basis, so this familiarity added to the effectiveness of the program."

• "Our consultant did a terrific job in my classroom. Many of my students are classified as 'at risk,' and behavioral issues are prevalent. Our consultant was able to maintain control and keep student interest high during her presentations. All of the planning that went into her visits, her time, sharing spirit,and generosity are much appreciated by the stutdents and myself."

• "[The Junior Achievement program] truly supports Michigan standards and benchmarks for the MEAP test, improving students' vocabulary and understanding of economics. They do it in a fun way, involving parents, and it supports our comunity as well."

Volunteers:

• "Spending an hour a week with high school students will give you confidence about the future. Sharing your experience, particularly with students who belive they have limited opportunities, may just change the future for one or more."

• "There is a need to educate children about possibilities or careers that support our community but are not part of the well known careers out there. It takes many positions to run a company and keep our community growing. JA shares those experiences and plants the seed to get our young people thinking about their future."

and Students:

• "[The JA program]helped me out a lot with interviews. I got a job using the things [I learned in JA]!"

• "I learned that little people can do big things."

       Want to help "little people do big things?"

       Please see our Invest in JA page, call us at (269) 983-5759 or email info@michianaja.org if you'd like to make a donation, or if you have any other questions.

Junior Achievement uses hands-on experiences to help young people understand the economics of life. In partnership with business and educators, JA brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential.