This page is currently being updated for the upcoming 2010-2011 academic year.
At no time in recent history has the need for financial literacy education been more visible and widespread than today.
What is Junior Achievement?
Junior Achievement (JA) is the world's largest and fastest growing economic education organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeeed in a global economy. Junior Achievement's program teach students about financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. In partnership with business and educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential.
Why are Junior Achievement and Montgomery County Public Schools entering into a partnership?
In conjunction with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education (MCBRE), JA is currently providing its programs to all students in grades 3, 7, and high school within selected MCPS K-12 clusters to ensure a systemic model for successful business partnerships that benefits all students. This was piloted during the 2004-2005 school year and has since expanded to 122 schools in 16 clusters in 2009-2010, with more schools joining each year. Click here to see this year's participating schools.
What are the Junior Achievement programs that will be used?
Junior Achievement uses age-appropriate content designed to help prepare students for their roles as individuals, workers, and consumers in an expanding cultural environment that extends from the self and family to global relations. Each grade level has its own 'theme' and hands-on materials that encourage students to use the information to apply basic skills, think critically and solve complex problems.
Who implements the JA programs?
JA recruits, trains and assigns committed adult volunteers from local businesses and the community, including parents. Volunteers will be recruited both by the JA staff and MCBRE. JA will be collaborating with MCPS to ensure that JA content is integrated directly into the MCPS curriculum.
What are the benefits for students in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Anytime students learn with and from experts in their own community, a positive experience is shared by all stakeholders - especially when ongoing assistance is provided by MCPS, JA, and MCBRE. Specifically, students in MCPS will benefit directly from the JA and MCPS partnership by:
- Experiencing hands-on, classroom interactions involving economics and business with an "expert" business partner from their own community.
- Participating in authentic learning activities that are naturally integrated into their instruction.
- Exploring career possibilities related to JA topics such as economics and entrepreneurship.
- Having the opportunity to ask questions of and be mentored by a business partner who is knowledgeable about topics and careers that may be different than the students' own family and friends.
What are the benefits for teachers in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Teachers in MCPS will benefit directly from the JA and MCPS partnership by:
- Having the opportunity to truly partner with a role model from the community who is volunteering in the classroom to help provide current and accurate information about JA topics such as financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.
- Learning with and from the business partner and establishing a contact for future classroom experiences.
- Collaborating with the business partner to ensure that the students are participating in meaningful, interactive, and concrete activities that are directly integrated into the MCPS curriculum.
- Working with JA staff to ensure that the program is valuable and successful for all involved.
What are the benefits for businesses within the community?
Organizations will benefit directly from participating in the JA and MCPS partnership by:
- Helping prepare our future work force.
- Showcasing your place of work and increasing your visibility in the community.
- Informing students about careers in your industry or line of work.
- Strengthening and promoting involvement in education.
- Allowing employees to serve as role models in the community.
- Positively impacting the life of a child in a fun, MCPS-approved activity.
For more information, contact:
- Shelley Johnson, Director, Partnerships and Instructional Technology, MCPS, at (240) 632-6945 or shelley_a_johnson@mcpsmd.org
- Chelsea Soneira, Program Director, Montgomery County, Junior Achievement at (301) 838-0470 or Chelsea.Soneira@JA.org. Please send correspondence regarding Maryland programs to P.O. Box 10127, Rockville, MD 20849-0127.
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