Junior Achievement of SC PA

Short Description: 

Junior Achievement brings together schools and community members to help inspire young people to own their future economic success. We do this through engaging, hands-on activities that introduce students to careers, financial literacy concepts, business, entrepreneurship, and work readiness skills. Junior Achievement of South Central PA has been serving the region since 1961 and reaches approximately 100,000 students each school year. JA programs include community volunteers and business representatives who share their life experiences with students to help them make connections between their school lessons and the real world while also helping them to learn about different skills, careers, and regional businesses. JA programs are offered to schools at no cost for students in grades K-12 and help educators meet PA Academic Standards including those in Career Education & Work. 

How Junior Achievement supports STEM Education, Career Readiness, and the FrAY Ecosystem: 

JA's K-12 programs help students learn about how their interests and skills relate to different careers and the training, education, and skills needed to get started and be successful in those careers. JA programs are aligned to Career Education and Work Standards and sample artifacts are provided for educators to use with students as they progress through their JA program. JA programs are facilitated by community volunteers who share their professional background and experiences with students, helping them learn about careers and businesses in their community. 

JA offers a variety of programs for students in grades K-12 to schools throughout the FrAY community. While all JA programs include activities about work readiness, many have a specific focus on STEM skills and careers. JA programs help increase students' awareness of career pathways and employers within the region as they provide students with opportunities to interact with and learn from the JA volunteers who facilitate each program. Students who complete the JA BizTown, YES!, and STEM Summit programs in grades 5-10 are also eligible to earn a STEM Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate issued by the PA Department of Labor & Industry. (Schools must opt to enroll in this program.)