JA High School Programs
JA’s high school programs for students in grades 9-12 include economic and business curricula, an after-school student-led enterprise, and a one-day workplace capstone experience. The dynamic interaction between JA volunteers and students promotes active learning and brings theory to life.
JA Banks in Action®
Teaches high school students the principles of the banking industry and introduces them to the challenges of successfully operating a bank in a competitive environment. Eight required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts—Banking, Banking careers, Central bank, Human capital, Interest rates, Liquidity, Long-term deposit products, Long-term loan products, Marketing, Products, Profits, Research and development, Reserve, Reserve requirement, Rule of 72, Services, Short-term deposit products, Short-term loan products, Spread
Skills—Active listening, Analyzing information, Computer, Computing, Cost-benefit analysis, Critical thinking, Data analysis, Decision making, Following directions, Group discussion, Interpreting information, Math computation, Problem solving, Public speaking, Reading, Teamwork
JA Be Entrepreneurial®
Introduces students to the essential components of a practical business plan, and challenges them to start an entrepreneurial venture while still in high school. Seven required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts—Advertisement, Business plan, Competitive advantages, Customer, Demographic, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial spirit, Ethical dilemma, Ethics, Financing, Franchise, Long- vs. short-term consequences, Management, Market, Market needs, Marketing, Nonprofit business, Product, Product development, Profit, Social entrepreneur, Social responsibility, Stakeholder, Voting
Skills—Analyzing information, Business planning, Categorizing data, Decision making, Evaluating alternatives, Expressing multiple viewpoints, Graphic presentation, Oral and written communication, Presenting information, Reading for understanding, Weighing consequences, Working in groups, Working in pairs
JA Business Ethics®
Uses hands on classroom activities to foster ethical decision-making in students as they prepare to enter the workforce and global marketplace. Seven required, five supplemental, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts—Advantage, Demand, Economic systems, Exchange rates, Fiscal policy, Gross Domestic Product, Government, Global Economy, Income distribution, Inflation, International trade, Investment, Labor, Markets, Opportunity costs, Productivity, Scarcity, Supply, Trade
Skills—Applying information, Classifying, Critical thinking, Decision making, Giving reports, Graphing, Interpreting data, Leadership, Math computation, Public speaking, Reading, Research, Taking notes, Working in groups, Writing
JA Careers with a Purpose®
Introduces students to the importance of seeking careers that help them realize their life potential and noble purpose. The program demonstrates the importance of positive values, life maxims, and ethical decision making within the context of career and life decisions. Seven required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts—Career, Career choices, Job, Life roles, Maxim, Noble purpose, World
of work
Skills—Analyzing information, Building self-confidence, Categorizing data, Oral and written communication, Public speaking, Working in groups
JA Economics®
Examines the fundamental concepts of micro-, macro-, and international economics. Seven required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts—Advantage, Demand, Economic systems, Exchange rates, Fiscal policy, Gross Domestic Product, Government, Global Economy, Income distribution, Inflation, International Trade, Investment, Labor, Markets, Opportunity costs, Productivity, Scarcity, Supply, Trade
Skills—Applying and classifying information, Critical thinking, Decision making, Giving reports, Graphing, Interpreting data, Leadership, Math computation, Public speaking, Reading, Research, Taking notes, Working in groups, Writing
JA Exploring Economics®
Fosters lifelong skills and knowledge about how an economy works, including micro-, macro-, personal, and international economics. Seven required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts—Banks as borrowers and lenders, Command economy, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Consumer purchasing power, Demand, Distribution, Economics, Economic isolationism, Economic systems, Federal Reserve System, Free-rider problem, Inflation, Inflation rate, International trade, Investing options, Market economy, Market-clearing price, Nonrivalry, Percentage change, Private property, Production, Public vs. private goods, Public vs. private sector, Regional trade, Risk versus reward, Saving options, Simple interest, Supply, Supply and demand, Tariff, Taxes, Trade restrictions, Utility, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), World trade
Skills—Analyzing information, Categorizing data, Charting, Decision making, Evaluating alternatives, Evaluating information, Graphing, Listening for understanding, Oral and written communication, Negotiating, Public speaking, Reading for understanding, Solving algebraic equations, Working in pairs and groups
JA Personal Finance®
Introduces students to the importance of planning for their financial future. The program demonstrates the roles that budgeting, investing, credit, and insurance play in securing financial stability. Students develop a portfolio of skills to make financial decisions and set financial goals throughout their lives. Five required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts—Budgeting, Credit, Financial choices, Fraud, Goal-setting, Identity theft, Insurance, Investment, Pay yourself first, Saving, Spending
Skills—Analyzing information, Categorizing data, Decision making, Financial planning, Oral and written communication, Organization, Public speaking, Reading comprehension, Working in groups
JA Success Skills®
Meets the needs of a diverse group of high school students by providing engaging, academically enriching, and experiential-learning sessions in work-readiness education and career perspectives. Seven required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts—Attitude, Building rapport, Business, Careers, Choices, Citizenship, Communication, Cover letters, Effective communication, Interpersonal skills, Interviews, Jobs, Leadership, Lifelong learner, Opportunity costs, Professional image, Resumes, Self-confidence, Teamwork
Skills—Advocating and influencing, Asking questions, Cooperating, Active listening, Observing critically, Public speaking, Research, Resolving conflict and negotiating, Reflecting and evaluating, Role-playing, Solving problems and making decisions, Teamwork, Working in groups, Writing
JA Titan®
Introduces critical economics and management decisions through an interactive simulation. Seven required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts—Business, Capital, Capital investment, Cash flow, Competition, eCommerce, Inventory, Management, Marketing, Price, Production, Profit, Research and development, Risk, Supply
Skills—Analyzing situations, Applying information, Charting data, Computer, Consensus-building, Critical thinking, Decision making, Giving reports, Interpreting data, Math computation, Reading, Teamwork
JA AfterSchool®
JA Company Program®
Analyzes and explores personal opportunities and responsibilities within a student-led company. Twelve required, volunteer-led meetings.
Concepts—Business, Choices, Competition, Division of labor, Entrepreneurship, Expenses, Fixed Costs, Goods, Incentive, Income, Liquidation, Management, Marketing, Parliamentary procedure, Price, Productivity, Profit, Production, Research and development, Services, Stock, Variable costs
Skills—Assembling products, Consensus-building, Critical thinking, Estimating, Filling out forms, Interpreting data, Math computation, Negotiating, Presenting reports, Problem solving, Public speaking, Research, Selling, Teamwork
JA Capstone
JA Job Shadow™
Meets the needs of a diverse group of high school students by providing engaging, academically enriching, and experiential-learning sessions in work-readiness education and career perspectives. In-school, teacher-led sessions; pre- and post-Job Shadow experience.
Concepts—Career cluster, Interests, Interview, Reflect and evaluate, Resume, Skills, Work-readiness skills
Skills—Analyzing and interpreting information, Brainstorming, Critical thinking, Oral and written communication, Public speaking, Self-assessment, Setting goals, Working in groups, written communication
All JA programs are designed to support the skills and competencies identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. These programs also augment school-based, work-based, and connecting activities for communities with school-to-work initiatives.
